The 16th Hanoi People’s Council today [December 10] approved a resolution on the program of addressing traffic congestion and ensuring traffic safety in the city for the 2021-2025 period with total funding of VND1.8 trillion (US$80 million).

Deputies of the Hanoi People's Councils ratify the resolution. Photos: Thanh Hai

The overall target of the program is to push for the application of technologies and science in traffic management, eventually forming a smart, modern, and safe transport system in the capital city.

Director of the municipal Transport Department Vu Van Vien expected the program to result in substantial transformation in traffic safety and address the congestion issue, especially in the downtown, residential areas, provincial and national highways, or transport hubs.

Specifically, Vien suggested the city would reduce congestion in seven to 10 spots per year and prevent it from emerging in other places, at the same time keeping traffic congestion below 30 minutes.

Director of the Hanoi's Department of Transport Vu Van Vien.

“Hanoi would take steps to remove road accident blackspots and therefore reduce the number of accidents by 5-10% per year in terms of the number of vehicle collisions, fatality, and injury,” Vien said.

To ensure the realization of these goals, local authorities are expected to raise the responsibilities and awareness of the administrative units tasked with ensuring traffic order.

The city would continue to finalize planning and proposal on transport infrastructure development in Hanoi, including more resources and land funds for investment, Vien continued,

Meanwhile, industrial facilities causing environmental pollution, universities, vocational schools, and administrative units are set to be relocated out of the city’s center, and therefore to increase land funds for traffic activities.

“These are the core solutions to address traffic congestion and ensure social order,” he added. 

Vien also mentioned the necessity to improve public transport capacity and limit private vehicles in long term.

The program is set to be carried out in five years with the budget allocated on a yearly basis of around VNDD336 billion ($14.5 million) for 2021, VND343 billion ($15 million) for 2022, VND401 billion ($17.4 million) for 2023, VND425.8 billion ($18.5 million) for 2024, and VND359 billion ($15.6 million) for 2025.