Hanoi activates peak passenger transport during the April 30 - May 1 holiday, increases hundreds of passenger cars, and tightens management to meet the increasing travel demand of people.
This year's holiday lasts 4 days, coinciding with the time when many summer tourist destinations start operating, causing a sharp increase in travel demand. Hanoi Department of Construction has requested units to improve service quality, increase buses and passenger cars, and ensure smooth operation throughout the holiday.
Faced with increasing pressure, bus stations in the area have proactively implemented peak plans, supplemented hundreds of bus trips and strengthened operations to limit congestion and localized overload.
Representatives of Hanoi Bus Station Joint Stock Company said that this year workers have two large holidays close together, if arranged flexibly, they can last up to 9 days. This is also the starting time of the summer tourism season, so the demand for travel, visiting relatives and inter-provincial tourism is increasing.
However, due to the increase in fuel prices since the beginning of the year, some transportation businesses have adjusted fares or reduced operating frequency. Therefore, the total number of passengers may not increase sharply, but the risk of localized overload during peak hours is still present.
At major bus stations, the number of passengers is expected to increase sharply. Giap Bat bus station is estimated to reach about 9,000 passengers/day, an increase of more than 200%, focusing on short routes such as Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa. Gia Lam bus station is expected to reach about 1,900 passengers/day, an increase of more than 100%, mainly to Hai Phong, Quang Ninh. Meanwhile, My Dinh bus station may reach about 11,400 passengers/day, an increase of more than 200%, focusing on northern mountainous routes such as Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Son La, Dien Bien.
To meet the demand, businesses are expected to increase about 500 passenger cars throughout the holiday. In which, Giap Bat adds 212 cars, Gia Lam 68 cars and My Dinh 220 cars. "Hot" routes such as Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, Lao Cai... will be flexibly adjusted daily. Spare vehicles are also prepared to handle when congestion or lack of cars occurs.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Vuong Duy Dung - Deputy Director of My Dinh Bus Station said that from the beginning of the year to now, more than 40 transport units have proposed to increase ticket prices from 15% to 25% depending on the route. Most are small businesses. During this holiday, the number of passengers is expected to increase from 100-150% compared to normal days, so the unit will increase vehicles to serve passengers.
At the same time, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tung - Director of Giap Bat Bus Station said that passenger traffic is expected to increase sharply in two peak periods: from the evening of April 24 to the end of April 25 and from the evening of April 29 to the end of April 30. The unit arranges 100% of personnel to work to serve people. According to Mr. Tung, although many bus companies have proposed ticket price increases before, so far no businesses have continued to request price increases during the holidays.
Inspection and supervision of transport activities are also strengthened. Units are required not to carry overloaded goods, not to increase fares against regulations, and to ensure full vehicle conditions and driver's papers.
Negative acts such as "baiting", soliciting customers, collecting fees against regulations, and street vendors causing disorder will be strictly handled. Functional forces are strengthened to coordinate to ensure security and order and traffic safety in the bus station area.
Notably, connectivity with the bus network continues to be promoted to support passengers moving between bus stations and inner city areas. Non-cash payments are also encouraged to create convenience for people.
In addition, environmental sanitation, fire prevention and fighting, and wharf and yard renovation are being implemented synchronously before the holidays.
Hanoi Bus Station Joint Stock Company proposed that the Hanoi City Police and the Department of Construction strengthen traffic diversion and regulation in the bus station area; and at the same time requested transport units to prepare sufficient vehicles and personnel, comply with bus schedules and be ready to increase when necessary.
With early preparation and synchronous solutions, Hanoi aims to ensure that transportation activities during the holidays are safe, convenient and smooth.
