Myanmar: Yangon Water Taxi Service to start operation in May

Event

Yangon’s long-awaited water taxi service will start ferrying commuters around the city beginning the third week of May. The water taxi service will initially provide 12 boats to travel along the Hlaing and Nga Moe Yeik rivers. The former will have 7 stops and the latter 11. The boats, each of which will carry around 80 to 100 people, are expected to allow passengers to get off near bus stops to make it easier for them to continue their journeys. These routes were designed for commuters from the outskirts of the city to bypass congested traffic in central Yangon.

Context

Express water taxis are one of several solutions put forward by Myanmar's Yangon Region Transport Authority in a bid to ease severe traffic in the city. The regional government recently merged over 300 bus companies into 79 new entities and set new rules aimed at reducing congestion. Myanmar’s public transportation system has over 4000 vehicles serving 2.6 million people.

Advice

As a reminder, individuals traveling in Myanmar should note that  boat transportation may not meet internationally recognized safety standards, and search and rescue capabilities may be limited. During the monsoon season (generally May to October), heavy rains can cause major flooding. As a precautionary measure, always check weather forecasts prior to any boat travel.