Concrete  plan to reduce traffic jam in Hanoi

On June 21, Hanoi’s People Committee has  submitted to Hanoi’s People’s  Council the draft resolution   to approve the “Project on reducing traffic congestion and pollution in Hanoi between 2017-2020, with a view to 2030”. It basically outlines 6 major solutions to control vehicles in Hanoi: quantity management; quality management; vehicle operating scope management; public transportation improvement; IT application in management and improving state management in transportation.

One of the project’s essential  contents is testing and reviewing  vehicle emission  and technical safety so that  the municipal government could phase out  two wheelers  circulation in Hanoi, with a view to  completely  ban motorbike in Hanoi’s metropolitan area.

Specifically, from now until June 30, 2018, Hanoi will work out  technical and environmental regulations and standards  for motorbike and disseminate among Hanoi city dwellers. Emission testing  and tester training centers will be established.  Between July 1, 2018 and  Dec 31, 2019,  motorbikes with cylinder capacity of at least 175cm3 will be emission tested. Since 2020, there will be gradual recall and remove of old motorbikes failing to  meet the technical and emission standards. It is expected that by 2030  motorbike will be banned completely  in the inner city.

90% of Hanoians agree with the plan

Along with the project , the Hanoi Police Department has  carried out a sociological  survey on 15.337 people and  households in Hanoi. The survey result shows that  84%  said they approve the  restriction plan for  individual vehicle; especially 85% living inside the 3^rd ring road   agree with the plan. More than 90%  also support the plan to  remove old motorbike as well as ban motorbike in the inner city. However, people also require the government to focus on building efficient public transport system  to meet the commuting  demand, once  the private  vehicles are removed. In addition, over 70%  agree with school and work-hours adjustment, as an effort to ease traffic jam.