Fares have been slashed by 69 taxi and 15 long-distance passengertransport companies in the capital since last November, afterauthorities urged them to do so following fuel price reductions.
Themunicipal Department of Transport told VnExpress online that the taxifirms have reduced fares by 500 to 1,000 VND (2.4 to 4.8 US cents) perkilometre and that transport companies have lowered their fees by 10 to15 percent.
The agency noted that, however, most of them had madethe adjustment in November, following drastic inspections by theauthorities. Few had done so after domestic petrol prices fell sharplyby 2,050 VND (9.8 cents) per litre on December 22.
Recently, onlyfive taxi firms reported fare cuts, including Mai Linh with a 400 VNDcut, Tien Thanh with a 500 VND cut and Xuan Thanh with a 500 to 1,000VND cut. Vinh Ha and Hoang Gia also reduced their rates by 1,000 VND perkilometre.
Some of the transport companies that have cut faresrecently include the Thang Long Transport Cooperative, which cut faresby 30,000 VND (1.43 USD) per ticket, and Hong Ha Transport Services JSC,whose ticket prices are down 10,000 VND (48 cents) per unit.
Theleader of a transport enterprise, who chose to remain anonymous, toldVnExpress that transporters are bearing rising costs related to roaduse, insurance, wages and equipment, so they will need more time toconsider any further fare cuts.
Hanoi Transport AssociationChairman Bui Danh Lien told Dien dan Doanh nghiep (The Business Forum)that any fare changes are proving to be costly for transporters as theyhave to reclaim old tickets and print new ones.
While theassociation recently called upon enterprises to register a farereduction by January 15, some firms are also worried about morefluctuations in petrol prices every time they adjust their fees.
TheVietnam Automobile Transportation Association's Chairman Nguyen VanThanh noted that the fare reductions of 500 to 1,000 VND per kilometreby the aforementioned taxi firms are reasonable, since fuel costsaccount for 30 to 50 percent of their total expenses.
He also suggested that functional agencies should inspect other companies to ensure reasonable rate cuts across the market.
Inthe south, Ho Chi Minh City Taxi Association Chairman Ta Long Hy saidalmost all member firms have cut fares by 500 VND per kilometre after agasoline price drop on January 6. Local taxi firms had already cut theirfees by 500 to 2,000 VND about two months ago.
A leader of theMien Dong (Eastern Area) Coach Station in the city said the station wasnotified about the fare cuts by about 100 transporters after the lasttwo fuel price reductions. The transport fees have been pushed down by 5to 10 percent as a result, he added.
On January 6, retail petrolprices were cut by 310 VND (1 cent) per litre. Prices for a litre ofRON 92 and E5 gasoline were slashed to 17,570 VND (0.81 USD), while theprice of diesel was reduced to 16,630 VND (0.77 USD) per litre.-VNA
Themunicipal Department of Transport told VnExpress online that the taxifirms have reduced fares by 500 to 1,000 VND (2.4 to 4.8 US cents) perkilometre and that transport companies have lowered their fees by 10 to15 percent.
The agency noted that, however, most of them had madethe adjustment in November, following drastic inspections by theauthorities. Few had done so after domestic petrol prices fell sharplyby 2,050 VND (9.8 cents) per litre on December 22.
Recently, onlyfive taxi firms reported fare cuts, including Mai Linh with a 400 VNDcut, Tien Thanh with a 500 VND cut and Xuan Thanh with a 500 to 1,000VND cut. Vinh Ha and Hoang Gia also reduced their rates by 1,000 VND perkilometre.
Some of the transport companies that have cut faresrecently include the Thang Long Transport Cooperative, which cut faresby 30,000 VND (1.43 USD) per ticket, and Hong Ha Transport Services JSC,whose ticket prices are down 10,000 VND (48 cents) per unit.
Theleader of a transport enterprise, who chose to remain anonymous, toldVnExpress that transporters are bearing rising costs related to roaduse, insurance, wages and equipment, so they will need more time toconsider any further fare cuts.
Hanoi Transport AssociationChairman Bui Danh Lien told Dien dan Doanh nghiep (The Business Forum)that any fare changes are proving to be costly for transporters as theyhave to reclaim old tickets and print new ones.
While theassociation recently called upon enterprises to register a farereduction by January 15, some firms are also worried about morefluctuations in petrol prices every time they adjust their fees.
TheVietnam Automobile Transportation Association's Chairman Nguyen VanThanh noted that the fare reductions of 500 to 1,000 VND per kilometreby the aforementioned taxi firms are reasonable, since fuel costsaccount for 30 to 50 percent of their total expenses.
He also suggested that functional agencies should inspect other companies to ensure reasonable rate cuts across the market.
Inthe south, Ho Chi Minh City Taxi Association Chairman Ta Long Hy saidalmost all member firms have cut fares by 500 VND per kilometre after agasoline price drop on January 6. Local taxi firms had already cut theirfees by 500 to 2,000 VND about two months ago.
A leader of theMien Dong (Eastern Area) Coach Station in the city said the station wasnotified about the fare cuts by about 100 transporters after the lasttwo fuel price reductions. The transport fees have been pushed down by 5to 10 percent as a result, he added.
On January 6, retail petrolprices were cut by 310 VND (1 cent) per litre. Prices for a litre ofRON 92 and E5 gasoline were slashed to 17,570 VND (0.81 USD), while theprice of diesel was reduced to 16,630 VND (0.77 USD) per litre.-VNA
