Why must passenger transport at Vinh market bus station be stopped?

Reduce congestion, facilitate inner-city traffic

Nghe An Department of Transporthas issued Decision No. 838/QD-SGTVT on terminating the operation of the passenger bus station at Vinh Market Bus Station from April 30, 2023. Accordingly, Nghe An will transfer all fixed passenger transport routes (including inter-provincial and intra-provincial routes) currently operating at Vinh Market Bus Station to operate at bus stations in Vinh city and Hung Nguyen district. Currently, all passenger transport business units, bus stations and related units have received this decision.

Vinh market bus station has a busy flow of vehicles coming in and out. Photo: QA

It is known that Vinh Market Bus Station is located in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City, with a total area of ​​over 15,000m2. At this bus station, passenger and cargo transportation activities have been bustling for many years. Particularly for passenger transportation, Vinh Market Bus Station has 110 registered vehicles operating on 18 transport routes, of which, for intra-provincial routes, Vinh - Que Phong route has the largest number of registered vehicles, similarly, for inter-provincial routes Nghe An - Quang Binh.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport said: The termination of passenger transport activities at Vinh market bus station is part of the planning of the bus station system in Nghe An. Currently, the pressure on traffic density in Vinh city is very large, the number of private vehicles, especially cars, is increasing, causing frequent congestion. In addition, the current situation in the Vinh market bus station area has narrow roads, and is also the place where the whole province concentrates on goods trading, the number of vehicles is crowded, so traffic congestion and traffic safety problems occur frequently.

Cho Vinh Bus Station currently has 110 passenger vehicles registered for operation. Photo: QA

“Stopping passenger transport will reduce traffic pressure on Vinh city’s inner city, prevent fixed-route passenger buses from operating through the city, limit stopping and competing for passengers, causing traffic disorder and safety, and contribute to reducing congestion in the inner city…” said Mr. Nguyen VanHai emphasized.

Mr. Hai also gave specific evidence at the old Vinh bus station, located at 77 Le Loi Street. Before moving this bus station to Bac Vinh bus station, the area near the bus station on Le Loi Street was always crowded and chaotic, with bus companies constantly soliciting passengers, causing traffic safety and security problems. Not to mention that Le Loi Street is a key street in Vinh City, with high traffic density, so traffic jams often occur. Since the successful transfer of Vinh bus station to Bac Vinh bus station in April 2018, these problems have been resolved. Therefore, ending passenger transport at Cho Vinh bus station and moving to suburban bus stations is reasonable and in line with reality.

The roads around Vinh Market bus station are always crowded. Photo: QA

On May 30, 2011, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 25/2011/QD-UBND on the promulgation of the planning of the passenger bus station system in Nghe An province until 2020. This decision clearly stated that the locations of some bus stations are no longer suitable for the planning of the local transport system and need to be relocated (specifically Vinh bus station, Vinh market bus station...). By April 2018, Vinh bus station was relocated to the North of Vinh. Vinh market bus station is still in operation up to the present time.

Mr. Duong Ngoc Thang, the owner of a passenger car running the Vinh - Ky Anh route, said: Our car has been registered to operate at Vinh market bus station since 2010, which is 13 years now. Currently, the car company has also received notice from the Department of Transport as well as the bus station. Although it is estimated that the change to a new bus station and new route will cause fluctuations in the number of passengers, this is a major policy of the province, ensuring general traffic for the community, so we will comply.

Ensure progress

Mr. Le Van Khuyen - Head of Vinh Market Bus Station said: After receiving the decision of the Department of Transport, we have widely announced to the passenger transport units registered at the bus station through many forms. Recently, the unit also held a meeting with transport enterprises and bus companies to grasp the situation, and at the same time deployed these units to sign a commitment to end passenger transport at Vinh Market Bus Station on schedule on April 30.

Freight transport activities still take place normally at Vinh market bus station when passenger transport activities stop. Photo: QA

“The bus companies have all agreed on a plan to move to Nam Vinh bus station, located in Hung Loi commune, Hung Nguyen district, after stopping to pick up and drop off passengers at Vinh market bus station. Freight transport activities at the bus station are still maintained as normal, so bus companies and traders should not panic,” he said.Emphasis added.

Mr. Lu Thanh Trung, owner of a 29-seat passenger van running the Vinh - Que Phong route at Vinh market bus station, shared: In the past, transporting passengers within the province like us has encountered many difficulties due to competition from illegal vans, illegal bus stations, and buses. There were times when we ran from Que Phong to Vinh but only had 5 - 10 passengers, not enough to cover the costs. Therefore, we will also carry out the relocation according to the policy, but hope that the authorities will create conditions to arrange a new suitable route so that picking up passengers can take place smoothly, the number of passengers can still be guaranteed for the bus companies to operate.

The number of passengers at Cho Vinh bus station is not much compared to other bus stations. Photo: QA

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport said: The Department is directing relevant departments, divisions and units to speed up procedures to ensure the termination of passenger transport activities at Cho Vinh bus station on schedule on April 30.

On the side of the wharf management unit, the Department requested the Wharf Joint Stock CompanyNghe An bus company reviews the transport business units, the number of vehicles and the schedule of fixed passenger transport routes (including inter-provincial and intra-provincial routes) currently operating at Vinh market bus station. At the same time, organize dissemination and propaganda for transport business units, vehicle owners as well as passengers to know, ensuring smooth passenger transport operations, without interruption when making transfers.

Passengers get on and off the bus at Vinh market bus station. Photo: QA

Nghe An Department of Transport requests the Department of Transport of provinces and centrally-run cities to notify relevant passenger transport businesses of the plan to terminate the operation of the bus station at Vinh market bus station and transfer fixed passenger transport routes to and from bus stations in Vinh city and Hung Nguyen district to coordinate implementation in accordance with the direction of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee./.