The National Capital District has launched its new City Bus Service consisting of ten buses that can carry up to 40 passengers.
The buses will circle the city along two routes at appointed times, from early in the morning to early in the night.One route will begin at the Port Moresby Airport and pass through Boroko, Badilli, Down Town, Poreporena Freeway, Gordons and back to the airport.
The second route will begin at Gerehu and pass through Gordons, East Boroko, Malaoro, Port Moresby General Hospital, Hohola, Tokorara, Waigani and the UPNG campus.
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The buses will make a minimum of two minute stops at bus stops. Passengers waiting for the buses will wait 10 minutes between buses to arrive at their stops.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop said they are still working out the operational costs of the buses and set the pricing for tickets etc, in order to ensure that the new bus service will not impact on the profitably of the privately run PMV services in Port Moresby.
He said the new service would possibly be subsidized by the NCD.
The benefits of the service to commuters in Port Moresby are many.
Firstly, one fee can take you from Gerehu to town. Currently, PMV owners are colluding and not finishing their routes, thus forcing passengers to catch more than one bus to get to their destinations.
Secondly, the new service will reduce some of the pressure of PMV passengers trying to get onto buses at peak rush hour traffic. The buses can carry a combined total of 400 people at anyone time.
Thirdly, you can make a connection free with the ticket you purchased for your initial ride.
Fourth, the service will run into the early hours of the night. For some of us who been stranded between 6 – 9 pm at night, especially after work, this is huge.
And finally, No smoking on the bus!!! Yes!
The buses were donated by the Brisbane City Council, Queensland, Australia.
I don’t know how the other PMV operators may feel about this new service.
Feel free to share your comments below.
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