Clearly, the need for a smart traffic system for Hanoi is becoming increasingly urgent. The project "Smart Traffic in Hanoi" was considered, decided and approved by the City People's Council at the end of 2024. The project includes many solutions and applications of modern technology to improve the efficiency of traffic management and operation, reduce congestion and ensure safety for traffic participants.
The main contents of the project are to build a traffic monitoring system using cameras; Apply smart traffic light systems; Apply smart traffic through mobile applications; Deploy automatic toll collection systems; Centralized urban traffic management and operation systems; Develop solutions for public transport; Train and raise people's awareness...
In the explanatory document, the Hanoi People's Committee affirmed that the city's ITS intelligent transportation system helps reduce traffic congestion, making travel convenient, safe and effective.
Through that, the circulation of logistics goods of enterprises becomes easier, faster, improving the quality of providing products and services to the residents of the capital. For the people, through the effectiveness of enhancing safety, minimizing traffic congestion, the smart traffic system helps workers save travel time and work more effectively. Not only that, thanks to that, the problem of environmental pollution caused by means of transport is also improved. Moreover, the smart traffic system of Hanoi city aims at sustainable, green movement, gradually switching to environmentally friendly methods such as using public transport as the main mode, encouraging walking, cycling, ... contributing to Hanoi becoming green and civilized.
The project is divided into two phases, from 2025-2027 and 2028-2030 with a total cost of over VND2,000 billion. VND2,000 billion is not a large number for Hanoi (in 2024, Hanoi's total state budget revenue reached over VND500,000 billion). The issue that people are concerned about is that even if they spend that much money, will Hanoi's traffic be smooth and free of congestion?
This is a difficult question to answer because to ensure that Hanoi’s traffic is on track, the emergence of a smart traffic system is not enough. It also involves increasing the static traffic rate from the current 10% to 20%; increasing the rate of public transport meeting people’s travel needs from 19% to 30% by 2030 and 50% after 2035…
In the project, there is an issue of installing toll stations in the inner city. This is also a solution that needs to be considered, not only to help Hanoi have more resources to develop traffic but importantly to limit private vehicles entering the city. To make Hanoi's streets clear and not congested, if we have to pay more fees, surely Hanoians will agree. Because the loss of time, health effects, and work interruptions due to traffic jams are also silently draining people's wallets and slowing down the city's development.
