The new Eastern Bus Station (HCMC) was built on an area of about 16 hectares, with a total investment of more than 4,000 billion VND, with a designed capacity to serve over 7 million passengers per year.
In phase 1 alone, the project has a capital of more than 773 billion VND, officially coming into operation from October 2020.
However, contrary to expectations, after more than 5 years of operation, the number of passengers coming to the wharf is still very modest, the exploitation capacity has not reached 10%.
On average, the station serves about 6,400 passengers per day with about 375 trips, although most of the long routes have been transferred here.
Since Metro No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) was put into operation at the end of 2024, the number of passengers has shown signs of increasing but not much.
Disappointed by "parachutes and illegal buses"
According to the leader of the new Mien Dong Bus Station, the first and also considered the biggest "bottleneck" is the widespread situation of "illegal buses and illegal bus stations".
Many vehicles, including contract vehicles, take advantage of the journey to pass through bus stations or major roads to organize pick-up, drop-off of passengers and delivery of goods in violation of regulations. This activity occurs regularly and increases sharply during holidays and Tet, especially in the area around the new Mien Dong Bus Station.
Some transport businesses are also looking to avoid the wharf, organize vehicles to operate outside the wharf by bringing vehicles to parking lots, temporary parking lots, and even along routes such as Hoang Huu Nam, Den Hung, Lien Phuong, National Highway 1, National Highway 13, Hanoi Highway or the area of fuel stations.
Many bus companies open ticket offices and make appointments to pick up guests outside the wharf, forming spontaneous "parking stations", causing disorder in traffic safety, creating unfair competition and seriously reducing the number of visitors to the wharf.
Unconnected traffic
In addition, the connecting traffic infrastructure around the new Mien Dong Bus Station has not yet been completely completed.
The No. 3 overpass on National Highway 1, although completed, has not yet been used. The A8 road project has not been implemented, forcing people and vehicles to temporarily go through the internal routes of the wharf, posing a potential risk to traffic safety.
The lack of construction of a pedestrian overpass, a quay bridge No. 4 and the expansion of the road from the wharf to Dong Nai bridge has caused frequent traffic jams in this area.
Unreasonable fixed-route pick-up and drop-off points
On the Vo Van Kiet - Mai Chi Tho axis, the pick-up and drop-off points were once determined to be temporary and will stop when the new Mien Dong Bus Station comes into operation.
However, after more than 5 years, these points still exist, creating conditions for contract vehicles and fixed-line vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers in violation of regulations, while some routes departing from the new wharf are not allowed to pass through this area.
Similarly, the pick-up and drop-off point in front of Linh Trung Export Processing Zone, only about 2 km from the wharf, is no longer suitable due to the high density of vehicles and people. Passenger buses stopping to pick up and drop off here pose a potential risk of traffic jams and accidents, especially during peak times.
The pick-up and drop-off point at Thu Duc Intersection, about 8.5 km from the station, is not necessary as passengers can completely use the bus or Metro Line 1 to access the new Mien Dong Bus Station.
According to the leader of the new Mien Dong Bus Station, to remove the above shortcomings, it is necessary to soon end the operation of inappropriate pick-up and drop-off points, and at the same time adjust the fixed route in the direction of limiting passenger vehicles traveling through the inner city.
At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and strictly handle the situation of "illegal vehicles and illegal stations", install additional surveillance camera systems, cooling fines and completing connecting traffic infrastructure.
