February 7 – Bus Rapid Transfer (BRT) service was officially inaugurated in the presence of Win Myint, Union Minister for Commerce and Myint Swe, Yangon Region Chief Minister. BRT public transport began its service on February 19, with a fleet of 18 newly- imported buses from China (King Long) and South Korea (Hyundai). It is operating one route of 23 stops starting from Htaunkkyant Junction to the corner of Bogyoke Aung San Road and Sule Pagoda Road. The original plan of BRT system was to operate with 65 buses on two routes. A second route will be added when another batch of 45 buses arrive in early March.
Each bus can carry over 80 passengers and is expected to run three times a day. They will depart from the terminal at 15 minutes interval. BRT will use an all new card system for bus fees and staff will be on all BRT buses to guide the riders about the ticketing system. Bus fare will be K300 per pax. All buses come with an air conditioning system. The BRT buses are only allowed to run on the right lane. All buses and traffic lights along the bus line route are equipped with CCTV cameras.
Maung Aung, chairperson of the Yangon Bus Line Public Company which owns the BRT, said “The launch of BRT is initial step of reforming Yangon’s bus system. With regard to investors, there are almost 700 shareholders who had already purchased 1.8 billion shares at K 100,ooo per share.”
