The passenger buses "shadow" the contract buses, along with spontaneous pick-up and drop-off points around the bus stations, causing congestion during rush hour and holidays, are a familiar image for many years but have not been thoroughly handled.
Recorded on April 22 at Nuoc Ngam, Giap Bat, My Dinh bus stations, many vehicles disguised as contract vehicles and tourist vehicles are operating vigorously. spontaneous pick-up and drop-off points are growing densely, vehicles do not list ticket prices, and do not ensure safety conditions but still operate openly. Notably, to avoid the authorities, some drivers turn on emergency lights or move in a "crow-row" manner.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien - Director of Nuoc Ngam Bus Station said that the situation of illegal buses and illegal bus stations picking up passengers outside the station causes disorder in traffic safety.
The unit has recommended that Hoang Liet Ward Police and the Department of Transport Inspectorate strengthen inspection and strictly handle vehicles that illegally stop and park at the station, including taxis.
At My Dinh bus station - where a large number of passenger buses are stationed in the northern provinces - the situation of some bus companies leaving the station and finding ways to pick up more passengers along the road to increase profits continues. This behavior not only causes congestion but also poses a potential risk to traffic safety. Faced with this situation, the Traffic Police force regularly organizes patrols and promptly handles violations.
In the area of Pham Hung and Pham Van Dong streets (in front of My Dinh Bus Station), there are often cases of passenger cars picking up and dropping off passengers and goods right on the road. When detecting the authorities, the bus companies immediately notified each other to avoid being fined.
The situation of illegal buses and illegal bus stations has lasted for many years with many reasons: official bus stations are often located far from the center, procedures are cumbersome, waiting time is long, and ticket prices during the holidays are high. Meanwhile, the vehicle is more flexible, picked up and drop off on the spot, no binding documents, and the price can be negotiated. When regular transportation is not convenient enough, people still choose the "faster, easier" option even though it is not legal.
Another problem is unequal competition: vehicles operating freely, without station fees, not subject to supervision; while fixed-line vehicles have to bear many costs such as wharves, taxes, inspections, etc.
It is forecasted that during the upcoming April 30 - May 1 holiday, travel demand will increase dramatically, especially at major bus stations such as My Dinh, Giap Bat, Gia Lam. The Traffic Police Department - Hanoi City Police has planned to coordinate with functional forces, increase vehicles, patrol and control forces in the area of bus stations and gateways to the capital. The goal is to ensure traffic order and safety, strictly handle cases of passenger buses "arresting" passengers along the road, stopping and parking in violation of regulations and other violations.
Major Hoang Van Binh - Deputy Captain of Road Traffic Police Team No. 6 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) said that from April 1 to April 20, the unit handled 159 cases of passenger vehicles violating traffic safety order, with common violations such as stopping and parking in violation of regulations, running red lights, entering prohibited roads... In total, 152 sets of documents were temporarily detained and a decision was issued to fine a total of more than 123 million VND.
