Hanoi will allow investors to build advertising boards in exchange for 600 modern bus stop shelters and shelter displays worth VND1 trillion (US$43 million) in 12 urban districts, Kinhtedothi.vn reported.

The move is part of efforts to encourage Hanoi’s residents to turn to public transportation for mobility, thus easing the number of cars on road and improving air quality.

Hanoi to have 600 new bus stop shelters

Currently, there are 1,078 bus stops in Hanoi's downtown, but only 365 of them have shelters. The shelters are built by different investors, which make them apprear ununiform.

According to the municipal People's Committee, 600 new European standard shelters will be built at public bus stops in the city under the PPP funding mechanism. Among them, 270 shelters will be newly installed and the other 330 will be replaced.

In exchange, 1,200 advertising boards will be placed at the median strips wider than two meters.

Besides, 25 touch screens will be installed and connected to Internet for real-time bus tracking, and advertising.

The project will be deployed in 12 urban districts, including Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Long Bien, Thanh Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, BacTu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Cau Giay, Hoang Mai, Dong Da and Ha Dong.

The investors will finance 100% of cost of construction, operation, exploitation and maintenance for the whole project within 20 years and recover the investment through bus stop ads.

Currently, suburban bus routes account for 57% of Hanoi’s public transport volume, playing an essential role in serving inter-city passengers and connecting its peripheral areas with the city’s downtown, according to Hanoi Department of Transport.

There are 71 bus routes operating in outlying districts with more than 2,100 bus stops. Only 23 of them are sheltered, accounting for under 1%, the Hanoi Department of Transport said.

The Hanoi government has been working to expand the city's public transport network so as to reduce motorized vehicle circulation, but progress has been slow.

With the goal of building bus shelters in the city towards modernization, meeting European standards and the requirements of urban aesthetics, Hanoi is working to overcome shortcomings and limitations in investment, management of bus shelters in the city and increase people's access to public passenger transport services.

At the same time, the city will rearrange the system of outdoor advertising displays on the median strips so as for them to be catchier and less uncomfortable.