Hanoi, April 2 -- Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang made the above statement at a meeting of the Municipal Party Committee held on April 1.

Tran noted that the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee has agreed in principle to provide free bus services for residents in the city.

The southern metropolis city is currently offering free bus rides to people aged 60 and above and children aged six and below, with an annual budget of around VND1.7 trillion (US$64.5 million).

If the policy is expanded, the budget could increase by about 3.5 times, reaching approximately VND7 trillion per year, said Tran.

The expanded policy aims to encourage people to reduce the use of motorbikes and switch t...