Vinh Phuc (VNA) – The northernprovince of Vinh Phuc plans to invest 190 billion VND (8.2 million USD) in upgrading old bridges and building new ones crossing 34 canals.

The project is aimed at graduallycompleting the provincial transport system, contributing to ensuring safety forpeople and vehicles, according to local authorities.

It is also expected to helpcontribute to the province’s agricultural and rural mechanisation efforts,creating better conditions for farmers to transport equipment and machinery foragricultural production.

The bridges cross canals in Lap Thach,Tam Duong, Vinh Tuong and Binh Xuyen districts.

Around 22 bridges which are narrow anddeteriorated will be upgraded.

The investment capital will beearmarked from the provincial budget. The project is expected tobe completed in 2023.

Theprovince has also replaced old downgraded buses with new ones in an attempt toprovide better services to commuters.

A totalof 65 buses are operating on eight routes in the province with 446 trips perday. In July 2019, 49 old buses were replaced.

The newbuses, which are manufactured by Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation,use Japanese technology, save fuel and meet emissions standards. They areeco-friendly and convenient for passengers.

Nguyen VanThang, Director of Vinh Phuc Automobile Transportation Joint Stock Company,said the company is the first unit in the province to run a bus service.

In 2008,five bus routes with 55 buses and nearly 300 trips per day were launched,running from Vinh Yen to Song Lo, Lap Thach, Vinh Tuong, Yen Lac, Tam Duongdistricts, Quang Minh Industrial Park and Hanoi.

In Junethis year, a bus route from Vinh Yen to Quang Son was opened.

More than50 billion VND (2.1 million USD) was invested by the company in buying 28 neweco-friendly buses with surveillance cameras.

The newbus system has encouraged more local people to travel by public transport.

Thenumber of passengers has increased from 7 million per month before June toaround 10 million on six bus routes of the company now.

Theprovincial Department of Transport has cracked down on a series of transportviolations committed by bus drivers and conductors.

Transportationcompanies this year have offered training on communication skills andtransport regulations for hundreds of drivers and bus assistants.

Thetransport department looks towards improving bus service quality and will studyopening more new bus routes./.