Myanmar's Yangon bans Toyota Hilux as passenger carrier

Toyota Hilux pick-up trucks are not allowed to run as passenger carriers in Myanmar's Yangon municipal area starting mid-February amid government efforts to prevent road accidents and facilitate passengers, local media reported Wednesday.

Hilux pickups in 33 townships of Yangon municipal area will be replaced by mini buses at the end of February, according to the Yangon All Bus Lines Supervising Committee.

Hilux can still be operated for transporting goods, said U Hla Aung, chairman of the committee, quoted by the Myanma Freedom Daily.

There are about 804 Hilux vehicles operating in Yangon, he added.

As part of the efforts to reduce traffic jam in suburban Yangon, Myanmar has recently completed three major overpass bridges in the most traffic-congested areas.

According to the city's road transport administration, the number of motor vehicles operating in Myanmar stood at 3.9 million as of September 2013, including 3.347 million motorcycles, 382, 816 passenger cars, 102,537 trucks and 20,504 buses.

Yangon has a population of over 6 million and an area of 795 square kilometers.

source: Global Times

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