HÀ NỘI – Planning on a network of public parking lots in the capital city has several limitations and is yet to meet real demands, the Urban Department of Hà Nội People’s Council said.

Nguyễn Nguyên Quân, head of the department, asked Hà Nội’s Transport Department to review the efficiency of parking lot projects and propose mechanisms to encourage investment from private sector.

He said some investors had delayed the implementation of projects. Also, some land lots planned to build parking areas had been used for other purposes.

In 2003, the city authorities approved project No 165 to construct 34 parking lots in seven inner districts. According to the municipal Transport Department, 16 parking lots have not seen any investment, so far.

In the city, there are currently 21 parking lots, including on-street parking spaces, underground and multi-storey ones, which cover an area of 36.67ha. These only meet demands of a small percentage of citizens.

According to inspections, land development for building parking lots in the inner districts has been slow. Further, plans on parking lots are not detailed.

There are also hindrances in land clearance whereas the location of parking lots is not attractive enough to call on investment.

Nguyễn Huy Quang, deputy director of the Hà Nội Transport Corporation, proposed simplifying investment procedures, appointing investors and having measures to attract investment from private sector.

City authorities need to allow preferential loans to invest in public parking lots, he said.

Ngô Mạnh Tuấn, deputy director of Hà Nội’s Transport Department, said project No 165 was no longer appropriate according to Hà Nội’s current expansion, since it pointed out orientations but did not specify parking lot locations.

Based on project No 165, the department has prepared plans on parking lots and wayside stations by 2030 with a vision until 2050. The planning is waiting for approval of the Hà Nội People’s Committee. – VNS