Nghe An: Illegal buses, bus stations, and contracted buses operate openly

Passenger vans parked right on the side of the road in Yen Thanh town to pick up passengers. (Photo taken at 4 p.m. on January 3, 2021). Photo: Hai An

In the first days of the year, the situation of passenger transport serving people's travel is always a hot issue. In the areaYen Thanh districtNowadays, there are many "illegal wharves" appearing, causing resentment among the people.

According to observations in hamlet 4, Hoa Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Duc Phuc and Dung Anh sleeper bus companies have turned the roadway of National Highway 7B into amakeshift wharf. Passenger buses running on the Da Nang and Hanoi routes occupy the road every day to load and unload goods and pick up and drop off passengers for many hours.

A resident traveling on this road was upset: Every afternoon and evening, passenger buses park almost taking up the entire road to pick up passengers, causing traffic jams and a high risk of accidents. The authorities need to have a solution to rectify this.

Right at Hamlet 4, Hoa Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh), Duc Phuc Car Company immediately set up a "makeshift station" at home as a parking place. (In the photo, goods are gathered on the roadside waiting for the vehicle to return, taken at 4:30 a.m. on January 3, 2021). Photo: Hai An

Through research, it is known that in Yen Thanh district, each sleeper bus company has built its own "illegal stop" at home to pick up and drop off passengers and load and unload goods. Such as Tu Long bus company, Lien Thanh commune; Quang Vinh bus company, Quang Thanh commune; Tang Tin bus company, Tien Thanh commune...

What is special is that there are many cars nowadays.running in the wrong route, carrying a contract badge but running a fixed route, stopping and parking in the wrong place. Specifically, according to the Inspector of Nghe An Department of Transport, Yen Thanh district hasThe 6 sleeper bus companies that violated the law include: Hong Thu sleeper bus company, Phuong Dung bus company, Xuan Su bus company, Tang Tin bus company, Dai Cat bus company, and Tu Long bus company.

One of the "illegal bus stations" in Yen Thanh town. Photo: Hai An

In the last days of the year, in Vinh City, many car companies, regardless of the danger, stop and pick up passengers at gas stations, near bus stops, and trading points, causing unsafety and potential risks of traffic accidents.

For example, right near the bus stop on Quang Trung Street - Vinh City, a 16-seat vehicle with license plate 37B - 020.57 without a sign was stopping to pick up passengers. A bus conductor said: "It said it was going to Nghia Dan, Que Phong, but once the passengers got on, the vehicle did not leave immediately but circled around the city to pick up passengers for an hour."

16-seat contracted car picks up passengers right on Quang Trung Street - Vinh City. Photo: Van Truong

Nguyen Sinh Sac Street, through Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City - the main gateway from Vinh City to the southwestern districts of Nghe An, so the traffic volume of people and vehicles is very large. According to observations, at the bakeries on this route, there are always 16-seat Ford cars with contract vehicle badges but "disguised" as running on fixed routes (Vinh - Con Cuong) stopping to pick up customers. Causing a situation of fighting for customers and traffic chaos.

Mr. Lu Trung in Con Cuong town,Con Cuong districtsaid: Every time I have to go to Vinh city, I have to take these contracted buses like torture. The buses run so fast to compete for passengers that everyone on the bus is scared.

According to research, currently, 16-seat contract vehicles but running on fixed routes are mainly concentrated on routes to Thanh Chuong, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Ky Son districts. These vehicles often run chaotically without following the schedule, racing to pick up passengers, there have been cases that have caused accidents, however, the authorities have not been decisive in handling them.

Besides, there is currently a situation of "illegal" 7-seat cars operating.operating in large numbers, accounting for the majority of passengers of officially licensed passenger transport companies and bus companies. Arriving at Hoang Mai town to catch a bus to Vinh city, we were invited to board by illegal buses.

A private bus running from Hoang Mai to Vinh City flipped into a field in Dien Ky commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Hai An

Mr. Tran Van Tinh in Mai Hung ward, Hoang Mai town shared: Riding this type of vehicle also has the advantage that they carry on demand, into every corner of Vinh city, to the hospital, students are taken to their dormitory. However, the disadvantage is that the vehicle goes around picking up and dropping off passengers, which is very time-consuming. Some people added: Riding an illegal vehicle will face potential risks, because these drivers do not have regular health check-ups, leading to the situation of drunk drivers, insomnia, and poor health but still driving, affecting the lives of many people.

In fact, in 2020, a "pirate" car in Hoang Mai town lost sleep and caused the car to roll over into a peanut field in Dien Ky commune, Dien Chau district. Fortunately, the driver and passengers only suffered minor injuries.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Ly - Deputy Chief Traffic Inspector (Department of Transport)Nghe Ansaid: The problem of illegal vehicles is becoming more and more sophisticated and very difficult to handle. To punish illegal vehicles, there must be evidence that they collect money from customers. Meanwhile, customers "collude" with the drivers and claim that they are family members traveling in the same car, so it cannot be handled. Not to mention that the legal documents to manage this type of vehicle still have many shortcomings, so it is difficult for the authorities to have a basis to handle it.

Regarding bus companies that leave stations and operate transportation in violation of regulations, a representative of the Traffic Inspectorate said, we will review the bus schedule and make a specific list for the Department of Transport to take action, in which bus companies that intentionally violate will be required to cut bus lines and routes.

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Hai An