HCMC will introduce taxi stands in District 1 on a trial basis for six months, starting today, August 8.

A young girl presses the button to call a taxi at a taxi stand launched this morning, August 8

According to the HCMC Department of Transport, taxi stands have been chosen on a section of Ly Tu Trong Street in front of Children’s Hospital No. 2 and on a section of Nguyen Du Street near the Galaxy cinema theater, Children's Hospital No. 2 and the InterContinental hotel.

At these taxi stands, there are signposts and waiting areas. Taxicabs will have two minutes to pick up and drop off passengers.

It is essential to put up taxi stands as haphazard passenger pick-ups and drop-offs have contributed to the increasing traffic congestion in the downtown area, the department said.

More taxi stands may go up after the six-month trial if the results of the pilot program are positive.

Local taxi firms such as Mai Linh and Vinasun are in favor of the launch as these stands are expected to make stopping easier for taxi drivers who no longer need to fear getting fined.

However, according to Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Minh Hoa from HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the introduction of taxi stands is merely a short-term solution to parking problems in downtown HCMC and is unlikely to help ease traffic jams. 

Due to limited parking facilities in the city, both taxicabs and private cars are affected by poor traffic management.

Hoa added that passengers have the habit of hailing a passing taxicab on the street rather than walking to a particular location to catch one.

SGT