As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, at Thai Nguyen Central Bus Station, a technology taxi was suddenly stopped when it was just picking up passengers. A man wearing glasses asked the woman carrying his young child and another passenger to leave the car in the hot weather, causing public outrage.
Through verification, the above incident is related to a customer competition between an employee of Taxi Binh An and a technology car company, which occurred right at the entrance gate of the bus station.
The reason comes from the Thai Nguyen Central Bus Station signing an exploitation contract with Binh An taxi company from 2023, allowing exclusive reception of guests in the premises. This means that other units, including technology taxis, are not allowed to pick up passengers inside.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Lawyer Ma Van Giang - Nam Hong Law Office (Hanoi Bar Association) said that threatening or forcing customers and partners of other businesses to stop trading is considered unfair competition and is prohibited under the Competition Law.
With the incident of taxis competing for customers at Thai Nguyen bus station, if it is prolonged and not handled thoroughly, it will cause many consequences.
The exclusive mechanism for welcoming passengers forces drivers of other airlines to operate outside, which poses a potential risk of conflicts and collisions when approaching passengers inside.
Limiting operations to a single unit not only affects the choice of passengers but also creates traffic pressure at the wharf gate area.
Without strict management, conflicts between groups of drivers can easily escalate into security hot spots, tarnishing the image of the transportation business environment.
Mr. Nguyen Van Son (Phan Dinh Phung ward) said that the regulation only allows a taxi company to pick up passengers in the station, causing passengers who choose a bus or another company to carry their own luggage out of the gate to get on the bus.
This not only takes time but also causes many inconveniences, especially for the elderly, children or those who carry a lot of bulky luggage.
Regarding the above incident, Mr. Tran Van Long - Deputy Director of the Department of Construction of Thai Nguyen province said that business activities belong to enterprises, the Department is responsible for granting licenses.
However, the exploitation, lease and management of pick-up and drop-off activities in the bus station is under the direct management of the Bus Station Management Board.
According to the leader of the Department of Construction, the Bus Station only allows Binh An taxi company to pick up and drop off passengers inside the station, which is not in accordance with current regulations.
"We have issued instructions to clarify this issue. Transport business activities need to ensure equality between units, cannot create monopoly, Mr. Long added.
