Vinh City: 'Lack' of responsibility, 'weak' capacity in ensuring urban order?

(Baonghean) - Two issues were raised for questioning at the 3rd session of the Vinh City People's Council, term XXI, 2016 - 2021, which attracted public attention. Through the questioning session, it was shown that besides clarifying the current situation, causes and some solutions, in general, the city government still lacks fundamental and sustainable solutions to resolve existing problems related to urban order.

Not yet fulfilled responsibility in urban order management

Opening the questioning session, explaining the current situation and causes leading to many shortcomings in the management of urban construction order for construction works in the city in recent times. Mr. Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee admitted that, besides the reasons from the investors' limited capacity and lack of understanding of the law, officials and authorities of some wards and communes are also irresponsible in managing construction order in the area.

Scene of the questioning session at the 3rd session of Vinh City People's Council.

Delegate Nguyen Dinh Cat - Chairman of the City Fatherland Front Committee requested the City People's Committee to clearly state solutions to effectively implement urban order management, especially the responsibilities of wards, communes and urban rules teams.

Responding to this opinion, Mr. Le Sy Chien agreed with the opinion of the delegate in attaching the responsibility of wards, communes and cities in urban order management and including it in the annual emulation evaluation criteria. Regarding the urban rules team in wards and communes, in the coming time, the city will have a policy of professionalizing and regularizing this team; at the same time, strengthen coordination between the urban rules team and the police and urban inspection forces.

Regarding the opinion of delegate Nguyen Huu Trung (Hung Loc commune) on the management of planning and construction of apartment buildings, Mr. Le Sy Chien stated: All apartment buildings are under the decision-making authority of the province and the Department of Construction, the city only has the right to negotiate on planning and is responsible for managing construction order. In the coming time, the city will enhance its responsibility in the process of negotiating planning and managing construction order.

Vinh City authorities remove illegal signs. Photo: Archive

Delegates Tran Thi Cam Tu (Vinh City Party Committee Inspection Committee); Dinh Xuan Truong (Quang Trung Ward) questioned the city's responsibility for the current situation where investors do not build according to approved designs; many apartment buildings do not have a management board, a cultural house, or community activities; residents do not have a household registration and are not guaranteed rights and obligations; investors do not allocate funds for apartment building maintenance.

Regarding the above issue, Mr. Le Sy Chien replied: The responsibility first belongs to the investor. To manage the apartment buildings, the City People's Committee issued a project, coordinated with Vinh City Police to check the household registration and household registration of the apartment buildings and establish blocks and hamlets in these apartment buildings. The city will be responsible for checking and urging the investors to properly implement the original planning.

Lack of sustainable solutions to traffic congestion

Explaining the situation of stopping and parking vehicles on the roadsides and the increasing traffic congestion in Vinh city, Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu - Head of Vinh city police, said there are 4 reasons.

First of all, due to history, the city's traffic planning in the past was mainly for motorbikes, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians. Even the planning of apartment buildings, commercial systems and markets also posed problems, affecting traffic safety and order. The next reason is the lack of funds to repair and overcome with investment projects and specific solutions.

And a key reason is that the culture and traffic awareness of a part of the people are still poor, there are cases where people do not go to school but still have a license. Besides, the handling of violations and coordination between sectors and levels are not strict.

Delegates question problems related to urban order

Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu proposed a number of strategic solutions, namely that the city needs to change its thinking about planning industrial parks far from residential areas; build concentrated apartment buildings associated with essential works including parking lots, markets, etc.; diversify infrastructure, including overpasses and tunnels; use public transport systems to replace personal vehicles.

The current solution is that all levels and sectors must fulfill their responsibilities and seriously implement the Road Traffic Law and legal documents, including Resolution 05 of the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee. In addition, according to Mr. Tu, it is also necessary to pay attention to new solutions, including traffic diversion for vehicles from localities and provinces not to enter the city, causing congestion; installing centers and camera surveillance systems to handle cold; and continuing to study traffic diversion for one-way streets within the city...

"The city police will advise the city People's Committee to issue regulations on the responsibilities of all levels, sectors, civil forces, and urban rules in ensuring traffic order and safety...", Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu emphasized.

After the explanation of the Chief of Vinh City Police, 5 delegates participated in the questioning. Answering the question of delegate Nguyen Van Hanh (Provincial Traditional Medicine Hospital), when will the sidewalk business situation end? Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu said that the Provincial People's Council has issued a resolution prohibiting sidewalk business, so it must be strictly handled in the near future; if violations occur, the responsibility for ensuring public order and traffic order belongs to the City Police.

Regarding the opinion of delegate Le Van Long (Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Le Loi Ward) on the solution to traffic congestion is to arrange police forces to regulate traffic, Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu affirmed: Due to insufficient forces, the City Police only arrange police to regulate and separate traffic during rush hours and in some areas that are often congested. The most optimal solution is to both propagate and strictly handle to raise people's sense of responsibility and traffic culture.

Vehicles lined up on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Photo courtesy

Responding to delegate Tran Thi Cam Tu (Vinh City Party Committee Inspection Committee) about measures to handle the situation of stopping and parking on roadsides, including internal roads causing traffic congestion and obstruction, Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu admitted that there is no complete solution to this problem.

“Stopping and parking are regulated by law, but we have not done it correctly and strictly.” In the coming time, we will continue to apply towing and take vehicles to the City Police for 10 days of detention for violations. Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu also answered the opinions of some delegates about measures to handle large hotels and restaurants without parking lots; the inappropriate planning and arrangement of bus stops also causes traffic congestion; the problem of heavy trucks circulating in the inner city...

PV Group