Hanoi's People's Council has asked the city administration to continue refining its low-emission zone proposal within Ring Road 1, along with policies supporting the transition to clean-energy vehicles, before submitting them for consideration at the council's mid-June session.

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The low-emission zone proposal for Ring Road 1 will be reconsidered at a People's Council session scheduled for mid-June.

On June 2, during its third session, the Hanoi People's Council reviewed the proposal for a low-emission zone within Ring Road 1 and a draft resolution outlining policies to support investment in clean-energy road transport infrastructure, non-motorized transport, incentives for transitioning to clean-energy road vehicles, and measures to restrict high-emission vehicles across the city.

Speaking at the session, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Tran The Cuong said the city administration had submitted a proposal seeking approval for a resolution establishing the first phase of Hanoi's low-emission zone plan.

However, following reviews and feedback from council committees and delegates during discussions, the council concluded that these resolutions carry significant importance and would have a major impact on social life.

According to Tran The Cuong, the Standing Committee of the People's Council and its specialized committees consulted experts, scientists and relevant organizations, while also organizing workshops and conducting thorough assessments to ensure objective evaluation of the proposed measures.

He noted that many comments had already been incorporated into the draft resolutions. Nevertheless, the issue requires further careful assessment and additional input from residents, organizations and stakeholders to ensure policy feasibility, achieve intended objectives and provide the fairest and most practical conditions for citizens.

"This is an area that requires careful evaluation and broader consultation with residents, organizations and relevant stakeholders so that the resolution is practical, achieves its intended goals and provides the best and fairest conditions for the public," Cuong said.

As a result, the Hanoi People's Council has asked the city administration to direct relevant agencies to continue researching and refining the proposal while fully incorporating comments raised during the session.

The two resolutions will be finalized and resubmitted for consideration at the council's fourth session or a special session expected to take place in mid-June.

Concerns over subsidies for switching from gasoline to electric vehicles

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A special session of the Hanoi People's Council.

During group discussions on the morning of June 2, delegate Tran Khanh Hung, a full-time member and deputy head of the Economic and Budget Committee of the Hanoi People's Council, noted that this was the third time the proposal had been submitted for review.

He said the resolution is highly significant because it directly affects every resident of the capital as well as the city's socio-economic development.

Tran Khanh Hung expressed concerns about the proposed support package for vehicle conversion. Under the current draft, individuals would receive VND5 million (USD191) for each motorcycle or motorbike converted.

"Based on surveys conducted through several media platforms, more than 10,000 opinions indicated that a subsidy of VND5 million would leave many residents facing considerable difficulties in making the transition," Hung said.

He argued that further research is needed to determine whether the proposed support level is sufficient to enable residents to switch vehicles effectively.

Hung also noted that, according to the proposal, the total budget required to implement the program is estimated at VND23 trillion (USD879 million). If approved, it would represent a substantial expenditure within the city's overall development budget.

Thanh Hue