HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Department of Transport has requested transportation businesses publicise their fares and not illegally increase prices during Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The request was aimed at improving service quality and meeting transportation demand during one of the busiest times of year.

The department asked the people’s committees of districts to direct individuals and organisations in not increasing fares before and after Tết without reason and reviewing costs to reduce them if possible.

Inspectors from the Department of Transport are authorised to work with the municipal Finance Department and district people’s committees to supervise firms’ compliance with State regulations on fares and deal with organisations who take advantage of the high number of travellers to hike fares.

A representative of Hà Nội Bus Station Joint Stock Company confirmed that 20 transport companies have registered to increases bus ticket prices by between 20 and 60 per cent, depending on the route.

According to the company, during the Tết holiday from February 2 to 10, the number of passengers at bus stations will be 30 to 50 per cent higher than normal.

To cope with the situation, the company has mobilised 143 more coaches.

Hà Nội authorities also called on transport enterprises to offer free bus tickets for disadvantaged workers to travel home for Tết.

The Hà Nội Bus Station Joint Stock Company also ordered bus stations to collaborate with the police and inspectors from the department of transport to ensure order in bus stations and preventing the illegal transport of explosive, banned or fake goods as well as dealing with crimes like gambling and illegally picking up passengers.

To guarantee smooth flow of traffic, Nguyễn Quang Lượng, head of Transport Inspection Division, said traffic police have teamed up with inspections forced to increase inspections of coaches and issue appropriate fines.

“Since the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar year, inspectors have co-ordinated with relevant agencies to inspect coaches leaving Mỹ Đình, Giáp Bát, Nước Ngầm, Yên Nghĩa and Gia Lâm bus stations to detect violations such as carrying more passengers than allowed or collecting higher fares than declared,” Lượng said.

Once violations are found, the coaches would be stopped from operating, he said. — VNS