When will sleeper buses be allowed to go to Tan Lac town?
The provision of double-decker sleeper buses along National Highway 48 is a heartfelt wish of voters in the remote communes of Quy Chau and Que Phong districts, conveyed to their National Assembly and Provincial People's Council representatives.
Nhat Lan • October 21, 2024
RECOMMENDATION FROM QUY CHAU DISTRICT
We learned about the aspirations of the people in the remote areas of Quy Chau district through Document No. 154/TTr-UBND dated September 5, 2024, from the People's Committee of Quy Chau district to the Provincial People's Committee, Road Management Area II, and the Department of Transport. When asked, the local leaders of this mountainous district, one of the most disadvantaged in the province, expressed their concerns: “For many years, voters in Quy Chau district have petitioned for double-decker sleeper buses to operate along National Highway 48. The district recognizes that such a request would contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality, and therefore, we have submitted a document to the relevant authorities…”
In its report No. 154/TTr-UBND, the People's Committee of Quy Chau District recognizes that the 38km stretch of National Highway 48, passing through five communes and Tan Lac town, is a vital transportation artery connecting Quy Chau and Que Phong districts with other localities. Over the years, thanks to the attention of the central government, the province, and various departments and agencies, National Highway 48 has been upgraded to basically meet the transportation and goods delivery needs of the local people. To exploit the potential and advantages of the locality, Quy Chau District has identified three key areas of focus: developing tourism combined with boosting production, business, and consumption of traditional products such as incense, brocade weaving, and other products; developing the forest economy; and focusing on creating jobs domestically and exporting labor. With the determined efforts of the entire political system and the people, the socio-economic development of Quy Chau district has made significant strides, contributing to the successful implementation of the resolutions of the District Party Congress and the resolutions of Party Congresses at all levels.
However, Quy Chau district remains a poor district facing many difficulties, especially in the slow development of trade, services, production, and business activities. One of the reasons is that while the demand for trade and transportation is very high, the availability of transportation is limited, specifically, the double-decker sleeper bus system is not yet fully operational on National Highway 48...
Clarifying this issue in Report No. 154/TTr-UBND, according to Quy Chau district, since July 1, 2015, the date the Ministry of Transport issued Circular 63/2014/TT-BGTVT, double-decker sleeper buses running on National Highway 48 from Yen Ly (Dien Chau) to Que Phong district are only allowed to reach the final destination at Km74, in the center of Chau Binh commune, 18km from Tan Lac town and 44km from Que Phong town. People and goods arriving at the Chau Binh commune stop must undergo an additional transfer using other means of transport. Those needing to travel south or north also have to find transportation to reach the Chau Binh commune assembly point. Therefore, this poses a difficulty and obstacle for people in the mountainous ethnic minority areas; significantly affecting the trade and socio-economic development of the locality, especially in the fields of commerce, services, and tourism. On the other hand, the lack of infrastructure investment in bus stops in Chau Binh commune creates difficulties for passengers, especially at night, easily leading to security and order issues and posing potential traffic safety risks. "Voters have repeatedly raised this issue at district and commune-level People's Council meetings and during meetings with voters by provincial-level People's Council representatives and National Assembly representatives..." - the Quy Chau District People's Committee reported in Submission No. 154/TTr-UBND.
Simultaneously, following the Prime Minister's approval of the road network plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, in Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg dated September 1, 2021 (National Highway 48 from Yen Ly to Thong Thu Border Gate (Que Phong) is a Class III-IV road; 2 to 4 lanes), the section of National Highway 48 from Yen Ly to Tan Lac town has been upgraded. Specifically, some curves and blind spots such as Ke Le slope, slope 81... have been basically addressed. Furthermore, a bus station has been established in the center of Tan Lac town, meeting the requirements for passenger pick-up and drop-off. And the People's Committee of Quy Chau District has requested the Provincial People's Committee, the Road Management Area II, and the Department of Transport to: "Pay attention, create favorable conditions, and soon find solutions to allow double-decker sleeper buses to operate up to Tan Lac town bus station, creating favorable conditions for people's travel and helping Quy Chau district develop its socio-economic development in the future…".
LEGITIMATE RECOMMENDATION
Since we often use private vehicles to travel to the districts of Quỳ Châu and Quế Phong for work, we are very familiar with every section of National Highway 48. For example, the section from Châu Bình commune to Tân Lạc town used to have several weak points, requiring considerable mental effort to drive safely. For instance, the section passing over the auxiliary dam of the Bản Mồng irrigation reservoir project was broken for a considerable period, with a damaged road surface and sharp hairpin bends; or the consecutive narrow curves near the Châu Hội suspension bridge, and the steep Kẻ Lè slope…
However, since 2024, the Chau Binh auxiliary dam bridge has been completed; the surface of National Highway 48 up to Tan Lac town has been smoothly paved with asphalt; both sides of the road have been reinforced and renovated, guardrails have been installed to protect the embankment, and warning signs have been posted… the feeling of insecurity when driving has disappeared. Therefore, the assessment by the Quy Chau District People's Committee in Report No. 154/TTr-UBND dated May 9, 2024, that “some curves and blind spots such as Ke Le slope, slope 81… have been basically addressed” is accurate.
In Chau Binh commune, the central area, traversed by National Highway 48 for nearly 2km, has become a densely populated and bustling residential area for many years. Therefore, for quite some time now, several bus companies have chosen this as a stopover point, gradually developing passenger transport services in the area, including double-decker sleeper buses transporting passengers between the North and South, and vice versa. According to statistics from the Chau Binh commune government, there are 12 double-decker sleeper buses operating on the Quy Chau - Hanoi route and 4 double-decker sleeper buses operating on the Quy Chau - Ho Chi Minh City route. To serve this customer segment, bus companies have also equipped themselves with 10 additional shuttle buses for picking up and dropping off passengers.
More specifically, according to the Chairman of the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee, Mr. Le Van Toan, there are 16 sleeper buses operating in the area, belonging to 6 bus companies: Bien Cuong, Kha Son, Tam Son, Duong Huong, Hoang Huy, and Kien Sau. Of these, only one bus company is local; the rest come from the districts of Que Phong, Quy Hop, and Quynh Luu… Two of these companies, Kha Son and Tam Son, operate both the Quy Chau - Hanoi and Quy Chau - Ho Chi Minh City routes, and vice versa. Regarding passengers, according to Mr. Le Van Toan, they are all residents of Quy Chau and Que Phong districts. “In recent years, the demand for travel between the North and South for business purposes has been very high among people in the two districts of Quy Chau and Que Phong. According to the commune's statistics, on average, there are about 600-700 people traveling back and forth each day. To travel, people have to gather in Chau Binh commune through various means. Therefore, since the introduction of the North-South passenger transport service, the central area of Chau Binh commune has developed new types of commercial services, and the people here have benefited as a result…” - Mr. Le Van Toan said.
As the head of the local government, even with minimal benefits for the locality, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Van Toan commune does not hide the shortcomings, the most concerning of which, according to him, are security, public order, and traffic safety. He stated: "There have only been complaints from residents around the passenger pick-up and drop-off points regarding the impact on their daily lives, but no serious problems have occurred yet. However, the People's Committee of the commune assesses that the four long-distance passenger pick-up and drop-off points in the area pose potential security and public order issues due to the large number of passengers traveling both day and night. Furthermore, because the pick-up and drop-off points are close to National Highway 48, the risk of traffic accidents is always present…"
Referring to the aspirations of voters in Quy Chau district and the Submission No. 154/TTr-UBND dated September 5, 2024, to Mr. Phan Huy Chuong - Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, it was learned that the reason why double-decker sleeper buses are only allowed to travel up to Chau Binh commune on National Highway 48 and not yet to Tan Lac town is due to regulations on road classification. “For mountainous roads classified as Class V and Class VI, sleeper buses are not allowed to travel; this is a regulation…” - Mr. Chuong stated. Regarding the voters' request, according to Mr. Chuong, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee has been aware of it for several years. “Not only voters in Quy Chau district, but also voters in Que Phong district have similar wishes and requests. This is understandable because if sleeper buses could travel along the entire route, it would be more convenient for people to travel…” - Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Phan Huy Chuong explained.
Assessing the current state of National Highway 48, the Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee acknowledged that thanks to the investment from the Ministry of Transport, things have changed, especially the section from Chau Binh commune center to Tan Lac town, which is now "basically convenient." However, according to him, for double-decker sleeper buses to operate, the technical factors must be re-evaluated and reported to the competent authorities. To do this, a specialized unit and a competent state management agency are needed. Mr. Phan Huy Chuong stated: “The Provincial Traffic Safety Committee acknowledges that the request from voters in Quy Chau district is legitimate. If sleeper buses are allowed to operate, it will facilitate travel for the people and contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality. However, to implement this, Quy Chau district should coordinate with agencies such as the Department of Transport, Road Management Area II… to conduct a review and reassessment. If there are any shortcomings in the section from Chau Binh commune to Tan Lac town, a proposal should be submitted to the competent authority for permission to repair and upgrade it…”
WILL WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT?
According to information from the Department of Transport, following a proposal from the People's Committee of Quy Chau district, the department assigned the Road Maintenance Management Board to review National Highway 48, from Km75 (Chau Binh commune) to Km112+00 (Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district).
The review results show that the section from Chau Binh commune to Tan Lac town is a Class V road; despite repairs to the roadbed, surface, drainage system, and traffic safety, it is still not possible to upgrade the road. Specifically, the section from Km75 (Chau Binh commune) to Km90+200 (beginning of Tan Lac town) is a Class V mountain road (Ben = 6.5m; Bm = 5.5m); there are 7 curves with a radius smaller than 60m (the minimum radius of a Class IV mountain road); and one section has a longitudinal slope >8% (the maximum longitudinal slope of a Class IV mountain road) at Ke Le slope (8.91%). In conclusion, for double-decker sleeper buses to operate, it is necessary to upgrade and widen the road to a Class IV mountain road with a Bench = 7.5m, Bm = 5.5m, and address the large longitudinal slopes and curves with narrow radii.
Therefore, according to the Department of Transport, more time will be needed. A representative from the Department of Transport stated: “The Ministry of Transport is the investor for national highway projects. In the past, the department has submitted proposals to the Ministry regarding this matter, but due to the current focus on key projects, funding has not yet been allocated. However, the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 48 from Yen Ly to Quy Hop district, and from Quy Hop district to Que Phong district, is included in the list of infrastructure investment projects in Resolution 162/NQ-CP dated October 4, 2023, on the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW dated July 18, 2023, of the Politburo on the construction and development of Nghe An province, with an expected implementation period from 2026 to 2030. Therefore, the department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to propose to the Ministry of Transport to consider prioritizing and promptly implementing this project…”
