Vientiane bus rapid transit system gathers steam
 
Construction of a bus depot and control centre under the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project will start by December 2023 and is expected to be completed by November 2024.

Dr Bounta Onenavong (left) and Mr Tran Van The on Wednesday shake hands after signing a contract on construction of a bus depot and control centre in Vientiane.

Director General of the Transport Department, Ministry of Public Works and Transport Dr Bounta Onnavong and Director of Dang Khoa General Services Trade Co., Ltd. Mr Tran Van The shook hands on construction of a bus depot and control centre in Vientiane Capital after signing a contract at more than US$7 million.  
The signing was witnessed by the Mayor of Vientiane, Mr Atsaphangthong Siphandone; Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Ngampasong Muongmany; and invited guests.
The contractor was selected following the submission of tenders. The contract is funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The bus depot and control centre will include vehicle lifts and a suspension check area, maintenance area, automatic bus washing facility, a cleaning station and have charging points for 55 electric buses, with capacity future expansions, to charge the buses overnight. 
The Vientiane Urban Sustainable Transport Project was effective in 2016 at US$99.7 million with financing from ADB, European Investment Bank (EIB), OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund), European Union – Asia Investment Facility (EU-AIF), Global Environmental Facility (GEF), High-Level Technology Fund, the Lao government and the private sector.
An additional four contracts have been signed, including a contract at US$14.8 million, financed by the EIB, for the supply of 55 battery electric buses; a contract financed by the GEF for supply of 150 electric pedicabs worth US$456,000; a contract at US$3.5 million financed by the ADB and the GEF for the construction of pedestrianization around the bus rapid transit stations; and a contract at US$5.5 million for the installation of an intelligent transport system to regulate bus traffic financed by the ADB.
Other qualified companies are now being selected to carry out remaining seven contracts under the project including for civil works for bus lanes and stations, traffic signalling, automatic fare collection and three management contracts.
The project will ease traffic congestion, reduce the number of road accidents, improve air quality, and cut costs for passengers and is scheduled to be completed by end 2024.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 3, 2023)