Some of the buses that will be deployed in the Bus Rapid Transit system.

Construction of Bus Rapid Transit system now 35 percent complete

The construction of bus lanes and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations under the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project is currently 35.51 percent complete, while the 55 buses that will be put into service have now been delivered.
City authorities reported on the progress of the project when a representative of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Mr Martens Meryn, a representative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other officials carried out an inspection on Tuesday.
The delegation visited the under-construction main bus station at Km 16, where plans include a bus stop, a building, a command centre, a repair station, and additional facilities.
The group also took a ride on one of the new buses at the Km 16 sports stadium, where the fleet of 55 buses will be based, and inspected other bus stations along the route.
There will be 27 boarding and disembarking stations in total, for which most of the foundations are now in place.
The BRT is expected to be completed by mid-2025, with services starting in two phases – a three-month free trial, followed by the start of official services.
The Vientiane Urban Sustainable Transport Project, authorised in 2016 at a cost of US$99.7 million, is financed by the ADB, European Investment Bank (EIB), OPEC Fund for International Development, European Union-Asia Investment Facility, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), High-Level Technology Fund, the Lao government, and the private sector.
Four contracts have been signed, including a US$14.8 million contract financed by the EIB for the supply of 55 electric buses, a US$456,000 contract financed by the GEF for 150 electric pedicabs, a US$3.5 million contract financed by the ADB and GEF for pedestrian zones around BRT stations, and a US$5.5 million contract funded by the ADB for installing an intelligent transport system to regulate bus traffic.
Other companies are currently being selected to complete the remaining seven contracts, covering the construction of bus lanes and stations, traffic signalling, and automatic fare collection, and three management contracts.
The Bus Rapid Transit system is expected to ease traffic congestion, reduce road accidents, improve air quality, and cut costs for passengers.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 9, 2024)