Multiple solutions, including limiting new auto registrations and developing public transportation, were proposed at the seventh meeting of the Danang People’s Council. The central coastal city, considered one of the most livable places in the country, is struggling with rising traffic congestion.

Cars parked in a row on Tran Phu Street in Hai Chau District, Danang City 

The city, with more than one million people, currently has over 945,000 vehicles, including 74,000 autos and 920,000 motorcycles. It is estimated that more than 50 new autos are registered in the city every day. The figures are expected to increase to 120,000 autos and 1.2 million motorcycles by 2020.

Danang City is forecast to soon face severe traffic congestion, similar to the congestion in HCMC and Hanoi City.

Speaking at the meeting, To Van Hung, head of the urbanization committee of the Danang People’s Council, noted that some crossroads in downtown Danang had been regularly congested by cars, motorbikes and buses moving at the same time.

Hung suggested that the city limit private vehicles by resorting to the quota policy for new auto registrations.

However, other participants at the meeting opined that due to the rising demand for cheaper vehicles, such suggestions may not only be opposed by residents but also affect tax collection.

Building more parking lots to address the traffic problem was also proposed at the meeting. The city plans to call on investors to build eight parking lots.

In June, the municipal authority had approved a project to build a multi-storied parking lot at 255 Phan Chau Trinh, Phuoc Ninh Ward, Hai Chau District, with total investment capital of VND28 billion from the city’s budget for the first phase. The project is slated for completion in 2019.

Nguyen Nho Trung, the new chairman of the council, stressed that encouraging residents to use public transport to limit private vehicles on the roads would be a lasting solution.

Danang City had introduced a project to develop public transportation and reduce the use of private vehicles for the 2018-2020 period, but it fell behind schedule, Trung added.

He also proposed the Danang transport sector carry out various programs to promote public transportation services, admitting that the current parking fee collection was a temporary measure.

SGT