Traffic diversion after stopping passenger transport at Vinh Market Bus Station

Also attending were representatives of the Traffic Police Department, Provincial Police, Vinh City People's Committee, Vinh City Police, Transport Business Association, bus station businesses and representatives of a number of bus companies in the area.

Representative of the Vehicle Management Department, Department of Transport presented a new traffic diversion plan after the termination of passenger transport activities at Vinh Market Bus Station. Photo: Nguyen Hai

According to the proposed traffic flowDepartment of TransportThe replacement plan for the old plan, after the termination of passenger transport operations at Vinh Market Bus Station with 110 vehicles and 18 fixed passenger transport routes, will have impacts on the traffic of transport businesses and passengers. Therefore, the province will develop and issue a new traffic flow organization plan to replace the old plan.

According to the Plan, passenger transport activities at Vinh Market Bus Station will cease from April 30, 2023 and it is expected that passenger transport companies will switch to operating at Nam Vinh Bus Station from May 1, 2023.

Currently, the facilities ensure passenger transport activities atNam Vinh bus stationhas been completed and to ensure the reception of passenger cars from Vinh Market Bus Station, some additional items will be completed before March 31, 2023. However, because the procedure for connecting Nam Vinh Bus Station to the National Highway 1A bypass has not been approved by the Ministry of Transport, passenger cars will temporarily operate at the Vinh North Bus Station.

A representative of a bus company owner commented on the shortcomings when the passenger route at Nam Vinh Bus Station is not yet connected to the inner-city and inter-district bus routes. Photo: Nguyen Hai

At the meeting, representatives of some bus companies suggested that the time to change stations is also the occasion of the April 30 and May 1 holidays, so to ensure continuity and better serve the needs of passengers, a more suitable time should be chosen to avoid confusion for passengers and traffic chaos. Some passenger buses in Vinh City going to the southern provinces via Ben Thuy 1 Bridge are free of charge, but now according to the new plan, they have to go through Ben Thuy 2 Bridge, which will be difficult. The location of Nam Vinh Bus Station is far from the center and there is no waiting point, connecting with inner-city and inter-district bus routes, so passenger transportation will be difficult.

Representatives of the Provincial Transport Association suggested that the traffic diversion plan should ensure the rights of bus companies, bus stations and commuters; and at the same time reduce congestion. Photo: Nguyen Hai

In addition, representatives of the Traffic Police Department - Provincial Police, Vinh Urban Management Department and Vinh City Police stated the advantages and difficulties when implementing new traffic diversion plans and requested the Department to continue considering advising the Provincial People's Committee on plans to upgrade traffic infrastructure, appropriate signs, ensuring general traffic safety and preventing congestion...

After stopping passenger transport at Vinh Market Bus Station, the city will put up signs prohibiting passenger cars with 16 seats or more on some streets. In the photo: Vehicles transporting passengers to and from Vinh Market Bus Station. Photo courtesy of Quang An

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport received additional comments from relevant parties. Sharing the difficulties of businesses and passenger transport companies when changing stations, the arrangement plans always ensure harmony, ensure planning and reduce congestion; hoping that the owners of bus companies and bus station investors support the common goal of the province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport said that he will review the whole situation to complete the traffic diversion plan in the coming time. Photo: Nguyen Hai

The upcoming traffic diversion plans will consider and fully absorb all comments. The Department will also review the whole thing to develop the most reasonable and optimal traffic diversion plan; moving towards separating inner-city and suburban buses into two separate routes. From now until the end of passenger transport operations at Vinh Market Bus Station, which is one and a half months away, the industry will work with Vinh City People's Committee to review the traffic sign system; request bus stations to continue to improve their parking infrastructure, and bus companies to improve the quality of their vehicles to better serve people's travel needs...

(Representative of Nghe An Department of Transport)