The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has ordered adjustments to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, shifting from concrete curbs to painted lane markings, according to an official notice issued on 16 December.
Under the directive, all concrete curbs already installed along the BRT route must be completely removed by the end of December.
The notice also states that if donor funding for the project is discontinued, the BRT project must be suspended.
The ministry clarified that the government or the project itself will bear the cost of removing the concrete curbs.
Contractors and the public will not be held responsible for any related removal work.
Prime Minister Approves Contractor Payments
The directive builds on an earlier decision by the Prime Minister, who approved payments to contractors for work already completed under the Vientiane Urban Sustainable Transport Project (VSUTP).
In an urgent notice issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on 12 December, authorities were instructed to proceed with contractor payments based on verified completion of works. The notice also ordered adjustments to the project, including the removal of road curbs and changes to BRT lane arrangements, following public concern over traffic congestion and safety.
The PM also tasked the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Vientiane Capital Administration, and the Ministry of Public Security with coordinating efforts to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours as authorities continue reviewing the BRT trial.
Traffic Safety
Public scrutiny intensified after several traffic accidents involving BRT lanes during the system’s trial phase in November, with five incidents reported within weeks of the free trial launch. On 23 November, a collision between a BRT bus and a motorbike in Phonsaath village injured a rider, while another crash later that day involved a car and motorbike at a different station. Additional accidents on 8 and 10 November damaged three cars and a motorbike.
In response, authorities restricted BRT lane operations to weekdays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and banned private vehicles from entering or parking in the lanes during those hours, imposing fines on violators. The incidents immediately sparked debate on social media, with residents questioning lane design and enforcement, and some arguing the dedicated lanes worsened congestion on narrow roads.
The BRT system, launched in late November under the Vientiane Urban Sustainable Transport Project, features electric buses operating along six main stations and forms part of a USD 99.7 million project funded by the Lao government and international partners.


