The Transport Department today issued invitations to the operators of 11 selected red minibus (RMB) routes meeting specific conditions, to apply for conversion to green minibus route operations (the scheme) by October 31.

Applicants are required to submit the completed application form and required documents to the department.

The department will examine each application received to ensure that the route operator concerned complies with the Conditions for the Operation of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Service, including hiring drivers to operate the routes.

Additionally, its daily operations and fares are subject to the department for approval and monitoring.

The processing of the applications is expected to be completed by the end of this year, the department said, adding that it will hold a briefing on August 12 to expound on the scheme’s details for the operators of the 11 selected RMB routes.

The specific conditions of the scheme state that the RMB routes selected should have at least five years of service, the vehicles of the route operate only on that single route and provide daily and whole-day service, and the route concerned is operated by a single operator, the department explained.