HÀ NỘI — Experts have raised concerns over the construction of Yên Sở bus station, which will be located inside the city instead of the suburbs, saying that the construction would cause waste and would not suit the city’s planning.

According to Hà Nội’s planning on bus stations and parking lots to 2030 with a view to 2050, which was approved by the Government in 2016, Yên Sơn bus station would be a medium-term inter-provincial facility to reduce overloading on Giáp Bát, Nước Ngầm and Gia Lâm bus stations.

The station would be located near Yên Sở Park south of Ring Road 3. It was expected to serve passenger buses and trucks with capacity to accommodate between 800 and 1,000 buses and 200 trucks per day.

The construction of the bus station has proved controversial among transport experts. 

Dr Đào Ngọc Nghiêm, vice chairman of the Hà Nội Urban Planning and Development Association said that in the past, the city had rejected the construction of two bus stations in the inner city, which were about 2km from Yên Sở station. 

The planning of bus stations and parking lots until 2030 included details on moving existing bus stations to Belt Road 4, so it was unnecessary to build Yên Sở bus station in the inner city.

Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội Transport Association Bùi Danh Liên said the construction project would be a waste because the bus station would operate for a few years and then be moved.

In reply to concerns over the planning of the bus station, deputy director of the Department of Transport Ngô Mạnh Tuấn said the construction project was part of the city’s planning of bus stations and parking lots until 2030, and was suitable with the city’s planning, which was approved by the Government in 2016.

Tuấn said after the building of the southern bus station on Ring Road 4 was completed, Yên Sở bus station would be transformed into a public transit hub and car park. 

Currently, the project for the southern bus station is still in the research phase. — VNS