Government studies have calculated that traffic jams cause VND12.6 trillion (US$600 million) in economic losses every year in Hanoi.
Chairman of the Transport Corporation Hanoi (Transerco) Nguyen Phi Thuong said at a meeting of the municipal People’s Council on July 3 that private vehicles were to blame for Hanoi’s congested streets and severely polluted air, as well as for 70% of traffic accidents, as reported by VietnamNet.
The number of motorbikes and cars in Hanoi have been growing exponentially by the year. The director of Hanoi's Department of Transport, Vu Van Vien, projected last year that the number of motorbikes would increase to 11 million by 2025 if measures were not taken to limit their use, according to VnExpress.
Thuong suggested that steps be taken to speed up the construction of urban railway projects. He also commented that the public needs more awareness of road safety as a means of reducing traffic congestion caused by accidents.
The official's statements at the meeting came on the heels of an announcement by the People's Council Tuesday declaring that a ban on motorbikes would go into effect in Hanoi by the year 2030.
The plan has been met with resistance from both the public and experts who have expressed doubts about the ban's feasibility.
[Photo via YouTube]
