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Curbing private vehicles in Hanoi is inevitable
Anh Kiet 15:03, 2019/03/11
Experts said the bus system capacity would be optimized if buses could run faster, which is currently impossible due to the large number of private vehicles.
The Hanoi People's Committee finds it necessary to restrict private vehicles to solve traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

Hanoi currently has about 6.5 million vehicles registered, about two million vehicles from other localities and other specialized vehicles circulating in the city.
 
Traffic jam on Lang Ha Street. Photo: Thanh Hai
Traffic jam on Lang Ha Street. Photo: Thanh Hai
Although in the past time, Hanoi has made great efforts to expand the road network, optimize traffic regulation and raise drivers’ awareness, traffic jams still occur in many places, emissions from vehicles are also seriously threatening the capital’s environment.

According to the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, half of the city’s budget has been spent every year on transport infrastructure development. However, due to improved living standards and the increasingly affordable cost of vehicles, the city’s infrastructure cannot keep up with the rising number of vehicles, no matter how much money has been poured into road construction.

World experiences have shown that besides expanding the road network, vehicle restriction is necessary to ensure traffic, avoid congestions and improve living standard. 

Director of the Hanoi Department of Transportation Vu Van Vien said that the city currently has 123 bus routes (100 of them are subsidized) with 1,915 buses. Buses are also connected to 62/71 hospitals (reaching 87%), 190/283 secondary and high schools (67%), 27/27 industrial parks (100%), 30/30 urban areas (100%). The Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway line is about to be put into operation with the capacity of nearly 1,000 people/turn.

Experts said the bus system capacity would be optimized if buses could run faster, which is currently impossible due to the large number of private vehicles.

Experts say that solving the issue of traffic congestion and environmental pollution cannot rely on any single measure. Infrastructure development, curbing means of transport, raising drivers’ awareness and imposing strict punishment need to be executed in parallel. In addition to limiting motorbikes, it is necessary to control the number of cars.

Vien noted that Hanoi city does not prohibit motorbikes, but will restrict them from circulating in some areas at risk of traffic congestion and high pollution. This restriction applies to vehicles in general, not just motorbikes. In certain areas, public transport has been improved to replace private vehicles. 
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