A new authority with the necessary powers is needed to manage Yangon's mass transit systems, says the chairman of the Yangon Region Central Supervisory Committee for Motor Vehicles.
U Hla Aung, whose organisation monitors the city's privately-run bus lines, made the comment in an interview with Mizzima on September 7 about the challenges facing the mass transit system.
"An organisation to monitor the Yangon transportation system is very much needed,” said U Hla Aung, adding that his committee, known by its abbreviation in Myanmar as Ma Hta Tha, lacked the necessary oversight authority.
U Hla Aung said he recognised there were problems with over-crowding on buses during rush hours and with the monitoring of fares.
Figures released by Ma Hta Tha in 2010 said Yangon had 6,000 buses which carried 2.2 million passengers a day, or an average of 367 people for each bus.
Myanmar Railway statistics for 2014 show that the Yangon circle line carries 100,000 passengers a day.
On May 14, 2013, President U Thein Sein formed an organisation to monitor public transport in Yangon but it was abolished 15 days later with no reason given for the decision.
