Traffic inspectors stop to check a 16-seat car travelling from Long An Province to HCM City. — Photo cand.com.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City has set up 10 traffic control stations at the city's gateways and on major routes to quickly handle violations of new rules limiting transport of vehicles departing from or arriving in the city from April 1 to 15.

The city is complying with the Prime Minister’s Directive No 16/CT-TTg on urgent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Traffic police and traffic inspectors from the city’s Department of Transport have been working together to carry out their assigned tasks at the stations since April 1.

There are four stations on National Highway 1A, including two stations controlling vehicles from the city to the southwestern region and to the HCM City - Trung Lương Expressway; one station located in front of the Pouyuen Việt Nam Nam Company in Bình Tân District; and another on a section closed to Đồng Nai Province.

Two stations have been set up on national highways 13 and 1K to check vehicles travelling between the city and Bình Dương Province.

One station is located on National Highway 50 to control vehicles from Long An Province, one on National Highway 22 to inspect vehicles from Tây Ninh Province, one at An Phú intersection in District 2 to watch for vehicles from the HCM City - Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway, and one located at Cát Lái Ferry controlling vehicles from Đồng Nai Province.

In the first two days of inspection, dozens of violations were detected since many drivers may have not known about the new rules, according to the department.

To limit the spread of COVID-19, the city decided to temporarily suspend the operation of all service vehicles with fewer than nine seats as well as taxis and buses for 15 days from April 1.

Inter-provincial coaches from the city to other provinces are allowed to transport passengers for one to two trips a day.

Vehicles are permitted to operate if they are shuttle buses carrying workers; are used for transporting goods and materials for production; and are providing food and other necessities.

They must carry half their designed capacity with no more than 20 passengers at a time, and must be disinfected before picking up and after dropping off passengers.

All passengers must fill out health declaration forms before departure, and must wear face masks and keep a safe distance from others during their travel. — VNS