This year, the maximum additional coach fare charge on fixed routes during the peak Lunar New Year holiday is 60%.
This year, the maximum additional coach fare charge on fixed routes during the peak Lunar New Year holiday is 60%. Khanh Hoa Department of Transportation has requested transportation businesses to abide by the regulation. Illegal increase in ticket fares will be subject to fines.
No sharp fare fluctuation
To facilitate transportation agencies’ report on passenger transportation fares and assure no illegal fare increase during the holiday, Khanh Hoa Department of Finance and Department of Transportation have discussed and reached consensus on additional charge rates calculated in 2 phases, before and after Tet, from January 31 to February 25, 2018 (or from the 15th day of the last lunar month of 2017 to the 10th day of the first lunar month of 2018).
The additional charge rate must not exceed 60%, applied for peak direction and no additional charge is allowed for the off-peak return. 7 transportation routes include from Khanh Hoa to Ho Chi Minh City; to southern, northern, central and southern provinces; to the highlands and eastern southern provinces; and to northern provinces. Each route has a specific additional charge and businesses are required to follow the regulations on fares. Passengers on the route Khanh Hoa-Ho Chi Minh City are expected to increase the most during the peak travel time, according to Nguyen Van Dan, Vice-Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Transportation.
However, negotiated prices are applied to the routes from Khanh Hoa to Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Vinh City and vice versa on February 6-15. Specifically, an air-conditioned berth costs VND1 million from Khanh Hoa to Vinh City, VND1.1 million to Thanh Hoa, VND1.2 million to Hanoi; an air-conditioned seat costs VND900,000 to Thanh Hoa, VND1 million to Hanoi. 22 trips are planned to serve passengers of the 3 localities.
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Illegal increase in ticket fares will be subject to fines
Khanh Hoa Department of Transportation has also required transportation agencies to prepare sufficient vehicles and cooperate with coach stations to make sure at least 1 standby thirty-seat coach available to serve passengers in case of immediate and urgent need. In addition, the businesses are responsible for raising drivers’ awareness of traffic safety regulations, especially against drinking alcohol before and while driving; maintaining appropriate driving shifts to make sure drivers work in good heath conditions.
Besides, the department has required the businesses to follow passenger drop-off and pick-up regulations by not picking up and dropping off passengers in inner Nha Trang City and causing disorder and traffic congestion. Traffic inspectors will boost supervisory patrol to deal with any violations.
During the 2018 Lunar Holiday, VND40-60 million fines will be applied for violations of illegal increase in transportation fares. Moreover, inspections of transportation businesses will be carried out during the peak holiday travel season, says Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, Chief Inspector of Khanh Hoa Department of Finance.
This year, according to new regulations, each business will be inspected at least once during the high peak travel time. However, businesses founded with signs of violation may be subject to unexpected inspections.
Thanh Nam
Translated by N.T
