A car park under Vĩnh Tuy Bridge. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Department of Transportation has proposed to the Government and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to allow the city to continue utilising roadways, sidewalks, and under-bridge spaces for parking vehicles, particularly cars. 

The city has witnessed a significant rise in the number of personal vehicles.

In 2023 alone, there were 6,000 newly registered cars, reflecting an average growth rate exceeding 5 per cent. 

Despite urban transportation land planning indicating that the static transportation area within the city should occupy 4 per cent of the urban land area, the current figure stands at only 0.6 per cent. 

However, due to unattractive investment conditions, the immediate establishment of a static transportation system to meet citizen needs was deemed infeasible, Nguyễn Phi Thường, director of the Hà Nội Department of Transportation, said at a recent conference on assessing traffic safety in the first quarter and outlining tasks for the second quarter.

The assessment of the situation concerning illegal and unregistered passenger coaches operating on fixed routes presented a challenge. 

The director proposed that the MoT consider revisions to the draft Road Law, aimed at establishing a clear differentiation between various types of transportation to prevent transport entities and drivers from exploiting legal loopholes. 

He also recommended the incorporation of new transportation modes to address public travel needs while maintaining traffic order and safety, safeguarding tax revenue, and protecting passengers' legitimate rights.

Hà Nội urged the MoT to advise the Government on tightening regulations for commercial passenger transport violations. Entities and individuals found repeatedly violating regulations would face revocation of their business licences.

According to the report released by the Hà Nội Department of Transportation, the city witnessed 385 traffic accidents in the first quarter of this year, resulting in 175 fatalities and 313 injuries. Compared to the corresponding period in 2023, there was an increase of 106 cases in traffic accidents, with 16 additional fatalities and 130 more injuries.

In the first three months of 2024, the city transportation agency concentrated its efforts on addressing congestion, accident-prone locations, and potential accident sites. — VNS