Hanoi People’s Committee has approved the Municipal Department of Transport’s plan to implement the first phase of a pilot project to introduce electronic smartcards on bus routes.

Up to US$1.5 million will be spent on developing a management system, installing electronic card-issuing machines at Long Bien and Cau Giay bus stations and other facilities.In addition, buses on the Giap Bat Terminal-Cau Gie route will be equipped with smartcard readers in the pilot scheme.The first phase, funded by non-refundable aid from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), is part of the Traffic Safety Human Resource Development in Hanoi (TRAHUD 2) project, aimed at improving public transport in the city.VNA