Ho Chi Minh City authorities are ready for Metro Line 1, not only the trains and operating system, but more importantly, the way for people to access a modern means of public transport.
Metro Line 1 project with a total investment of more than 43,700 billion VND, has been implemented for many years and has just been completed and put into operation, so it must be effective. The main effect is that more people use the metro, reducing emissions that pollute the environment, reducing traffic jams and saving for the whole society.
Ho Chi Minh City attracts people to access the metro by spending 15.7 billion VND to support free tickets for Metro Line 1 during the first 30 days of commercial operation.
With free tickets, many people will choose the metro. Through experience, they will find it more suitable, safe, convenient and economical than using a personal vehicle.
Second, the government spent 17.3 billion VND to provide free tickets for 17 bus routes for 30 days.
If you want people to take the metro, it is important to establish a connecting bus route. If there is a long distance and there is no bus to the station, it is inconvenient. If the connection is convenient and economical, more people will take the metro.
In fact, both free tickets for 30 days are not significant, but the effect after a month of "practicing" on the metro will be huge. The streets will be less pressured, creating open space, reducing environmental pollution.
But such exemptions are not enough, there needs to be more "stimulus" programs. In addition to supporting completely free tickets for priority groups such as people with revolutionary contributions, people with disabilities, the elderly and children under 6 years old (accompanied by adults), other exemption and reduction programs need to be considered.
According to the ticket price announcement, Metro Line 1 has a one-way ticket price from 6,000 - 20,000 VND, monthly ticket is 300,000 VND (150,000 VND for students). Why not sell quarterly and annual tickets at preferential prices so that more people can buy, because it is both convenient and economical.
There are many ways to generate revenue, such as advertising on train cars and advertising at the 14 stations of this metro line.
Even if we have to make up for the loss, from many other perspectives, on a social scale, we still "make a profit".
According to a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport at the conference on socio-economic development held on July 12, 2022, traffic congestion causes the locality to lose about 6 billion USD each year.
Just reducing traffic jams is already a big "profit". Not to mention building traffic civilization in the community. When people get used to Metro Line 1, the next metro lines will automatically be crowded.
