Regulatory Framework and Operational System of Urban Bus Transportation in Yangon, Myanmar

This paper reviews the regulation framework and reports the current practices of urban bus operation in Yangon. The main actors such as the local bus regulators, bus control committees, bus companies, individual bus owners, and bus driver/conductors, were interviewed in 2008 for collecting the data. First, information regarding the urban bus regulation system, including the permission system for bus operations and fares, control of service frequency, presentation of service information to the public, regulation of importing bus vehicles, and regulation of fuel consumption, is reported. Further, the activities of bus operators and owners are surveyed. The types of bus vehicles, operating facilities, bus network, service frequency, salary system, process of purchasing the bus vehicles, and business conditions in the bus industry comprising bus companies, bus control committees, and bus owners are summarized. Finally, the authos present the problems in urban bus transportation in Yangon. These problems include the poor condition of bus vehicles, inadequate bus network, unsatisfactory provision of service information, lack of financial support system, and deficiencies in the bus regulation system.