CNI News
7 Oct 2022
The number of travelers has doubled during the Thadingyut Holiday, according to bus transportation services in Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Terminal.
Although there were only about 20 passengers a day at normal times, highway bus transportation services are now receiving a full busload of passengers, an official from Crown Highway Bus Transportation Service told the CNI.
He said, “The number of passengers at our bus service has significantly increased. At normal times, we had only about 20 passengers on a bus. Now, we are receiving full bus loads or more than 40 passengers on a bus. The number of passengers has doubled during the holiday.”
Yangon Region Private Transportation Supervisory has warned highway bus transportation services against increasing bus fares during the holiday.
Although highway bus transportation services do not increase bus fares, some ticketing agencies and ticket brokers have raised bus fares, the bus service official said.
The entrance to Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Terminal. (CNI/Archive)
Some highway bus transportation services have sold out all tickets for trips between 6th to 9th October.
Manager Ma Kyawt Kyawt Thet of the JJ Express told the CNI, “As it was the rainy season last month, only a few people travelled. Now, some people return to their natives during the Thadingyut Holiday. The number of passengers has been rising since 5th October. It is too early to say exactly as it is just the beginning. We have sold out all tickets for trips on 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th October.
It was easy to buy highway bus tickets, Ko Tun Min, who is travelling to Taunggyi, told the CNI.
“There is no difficulty in buying tickets. We ordered tickets for the whole group. It costs MMK 30,000 to buy a ticket to PyinOoLwin and Taunggyi,” he said.
During the pandemic, only a few travelled and highway bus services had to rely mainly on freight transportation. Bus services are now reducing the freight services as the number of passengers has increased, according to bus services.