VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department said the overhauling of parking lots in the city needs to be done in phases, while concerned agencies in Hanoi have asked the municipal authority to issue a list of streets on which parking services can be operated to meet the parking needs of the locals.

Motorbikes randomly park on the roadway of a street in Phu Nhuan District, HCMC. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Hanoi to set up new parking lots

On Wednesday, Feb 22, the Hanoi Transport Department and the Police Department sent the city People’s Committee a request, asking it to issue a list of streets where new parking lots can be set up to replace those banned ones on 262 streets in the capital since February 15.

The two agencies made the request after they had reviewed the effectiveness of the parking ban in a meeting held earlier with many districts’ representatives, who said the ban helped create more spacious sidewalks but also caused troubles to both vehicle users and local residents.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Thoi, deputy head of the Hoan Kiem District Police, said the ban affected both the life and business activities of the public because the need for new parking lots had not been considered.

The agencies said parking lots should be allowed on major traffic routes, beltways and streets more than 7.5 meters in width, or streets with sidewalks more than 5 meters in width.

They also proposed the authorities to maintain banning cars, motorbikes and bicycles from parking on and off the sidewalks of 54 of the capital’s 56 streets.

In addition, they suggested assigning a State-owned enterprise the responsibility to manage and operate parking services in the city and recommended that the Hanoi Parking Service Company be licensed as a parking service provider.

HCMC: Avoid disrupting people’s life

Meanwhile, an official of the HCMC Transport Department said the authorities would revoke licenses of parking lots step by step to avoid disrupting the public’ daily activities.

Parking lots that block or disrupt the flow of street traffic will be shut down first, the official said.

For example, parking lots on 9 streets in District 1 will be banned, including Bui Thi Xuan, Suong Nguyet Anh. Thi Sach, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Nguyen Trung Truc, Alexandre De Rhodes, Chu Manh Trinh, Nguyen Sieu and Tran Cao Van.

In District 5, parking services will be not allowed on a number of streets, including Pham Huu Chi, Tran Binh Trong and Mac Thien Tich.

In District 11, the People’s Committee has demanded that parking lots be banned on several streets with high traffic density, including Minh Phung, Le Dai Hanh and Vinh Vien.

According to a list issued by the city People’s Committee, there are nearly 200 streets whose sidewalks and roadsides are allowed to be partly used for parking services.

However, parking lots are only allowed on sidewalks that have at least 2 meters in width for pedestrians, the official said.

Tran Vinh Tuyen, chairman of District 1 People’s Committee, said that parking lots on a number of sidewalks should be maintained until new lots are set up to avoid upsetting the people’s life and business activities.

Phan Hong Duc, chief construction inspector of District 5, agreed with Tuyen, saying there should be a detailed plan for cleaning up parking lots around the city and while waiting for new lots to become available, the authorities should only remove parking lots that affect traffic efficiency and safety.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre