Hà Nội to go ahead with plan to collect fees in congested areas

November 02, 2018 - 16:30

The government has approved Hà Nội’s proposal to charge private vehicles that enter congested areas across the capital as part of the effort to alleviate traffic and pollution.

The government has agreed with Hà Nội’s proposal to charge private vehicles that enter frequently congested areas across the capital city. — Photo dantri.com.vn
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI The government has approved Hà Nội’s proposal to charge private vehicles that enter congested areas across the capital as part of the effort to alleviate traffic and pollution.

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ requested the Hà Nội People’s Committee submit the plan to city People’s Council.

The People’s Committee was also asked to work with relevant ministries to complete a proposal of emissions fees for Government approval.

In September, the city People’s Committee submitted a plan to Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asking for permission to gradually cut the number of vehicles in the central districts of the capital.

The plan details three proposals, including a new fee on vehicles entering the districts in question, an extra fee for pollution and administrative tools to manage electric bicycles and cars.

These are the key strategies Hà Nội authorities intend to use to enact the city’s master plan on congestion and pollution management, approved by the Hà Nội People’s Council in 2017.

However, this type of fee is not included in the current law, so the Transport Ministry has been asked to review the plan and pass it to the central Government and National Assembly for official approval.

Estimates say Hà Nội will have over six million motorbikes and 800,000 cars clogging its roads by 2020.

Those numbers will continue to climb, and could hit 7.5 million motorbikes and 1.9 million cars by 2030, threatening to worsen the city’s already poor air quality. VNS

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