Nghe An: Continued increase in parking ticket prices at the beginning of the year

Available atCo Am Pagoda, Minh Chau commune - the most famous pagoda in Dien Chau district on the morning of the 6th day of Tet, reporters recorded thousands of people from all regions flocking to the pagoda to worship at the beginning of the year. The roads leading to the pagoda were packed with people, vehicles jostled each other, and households living next to the pagoda rushed out onto the streets to invite visitors to park their vehicles.

The number of people and vehicles pouring into Co Am Pagoda, Dien Chau District on the morning of the 6th day of Tet was very crowded. Photo: PV

According to a survey, there are dozens of households around Co Am Pagoda using the road and their yard as parking lots. Because there is no management unit, each household "collects" parking fees on their own. According to the reporter's investigation, parking fees here are higher than usual.

For example, at the parking lot at the cultural house of Hamlet 4, the old Dien Minh commune, located next to Co Am pagoda, there are about 5 people standing in charge of parking, including 2 people standing on the street to invite customers, 3 people in charge of arranging the vehicles and collecting money. On the morning of February 6, the price for cars was 30,000 VND/trip, for motorbikes was 10,000 VND/trip. This is a much higher price than the regulation.

People around Co Am Pagoda stand in the middle of the road to invite visitors to park their vehicles. Photo: PV

According to people who go to the pagoda, the increase in parking fees at Co Am Pagoda has been going on for many years but has not been thoroughly checked and handled. Not only has the price increased, but there is also a situation of soliciting visitors to park their vehicles, causing traffic disorder on the road leading to the pagoda.

Not only Co Am Pagoda but also some other temples in the province have increased prices. For example, at Con Temple (Hoang Mai Town) and Duc Hoang Temple (Yen Thanh), the parking fee for small cars on the 4th day of Tet is 20,000 VND, higher than the regulation.

Parking fees around Co Am Pagoda, Dien Chau District have increased sharply compared to normal days, up to 30,000 VND/car. Photo: PV

In Vinh City, entertainment and spring travel spots such as Vinh City Central Park, Ho Chi Minh Square, walking street, Ho Tung Mau Street art flower garden... after Tet, many visitors come to visit, so the number of vehicles also increases a lot. At the parking lot in Ho Chi Minh Square, although there is a specific price list for motorbikes at 3,000 VND/trip, cars under 7 seats at 10,000 VND/trip... however, on the evening of February 5, when people go for a walk in large numbers after Tet, the parking fee here also increased compared to normal days. When asked, a parking attendant here briefly explained that because of Tet, the ticket price increased more...

The parking lot of Ong Hoang Muoi Temple is packed during the first days of the year. Photo: PV

Parking fees at Ong Hoang Muoi Temple are posted. Photo: PV

Although there has been an increase in parking fees at some temples, pagodas, and entertainment areas after Tet, there are still places where the fees remain stable to serve the people. At Ong Hoang Muoi Temple, Hung Nguyen District, after people and the press reported the increase in parking fees in previous years, this year, the parking fees at this location have stabilized, and the parking area has a notice board listing parking prices according to regulations. Similarly, at Cuong Temple, Dien Chau District, the parking fee for motorbikes on the 6th day of Tet is 3,000 VND/time, for cars is 10,000 VND/time... no increase compared to normal days.

According to Decision 80/2016/QD-UBND, dated December 20, 2016 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, the fee for cars with 7 seats or less in Vinh City or town is 10,000 VND/trip; in plain and lowland districts it is 9,000 VND/trip. For cars with more than 7 seats, trucks, and passenger cars, the fee in Vinh City or town is from 12,000 VND to 15,000 VND/trip; in plain and lowland districts it is from 10,000 VND to 14,000 VND/trip.

At the parking lot in Cuong Temple, Dien Chau district, ticket prices have not increased after Tet. Photo: PV

For high-quality parking lots and points, the service conditions are higher than normal parking conditions (with solid buildings, surveillance cameras, fire and explosion protection) and parking lots and points at scenic spots, historical sites, cultural works where visitors often need to park their vehicles for many hours, the maximum parking price is not more than 2 times the parking price specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of Decision 80/2016.