A proposal by Hanoi's Transport Department to divert buses from some streets to break congestion has been met with a backlash.

 Buses on Hanoi's street

Colonel Dao Vinh Thang, head of Hanoi Police Department suggested on October 23 temporarily reducing the number of buses on Nguyen Trai and Xuan Thuy-Cau Giay streets, which have become congested due to on-going construction, such as the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Railway project.

Many sections of Nguyen Trai Street wave been narrowed to 2.5 metres wide, and buses are exacerbating traffic jams.

Vu Van Vien, director of Transport Department gave his approval and asked the Hanoi Urban Transport Management and Operation Centre (TRAMOC) to research the plan.

Many people have pointed out that buses are not the main cause for congestion. During rush hour on Khuat Duy Tien-Nguyen Trai intersection, there were often 70 buses, carrying over 10,000 passengers and they only occupied eight percent of the traffic, whereas 800 cars and 5,500 motorbikes, carried 2,000 and 8,000 people respectively. Motorbikes occupied 62 percent of the street.

Nguyen Xuan Thuy, former director of the Transportation Publishing House, said instead of reducing, Hanoi should increase, the number of buses to ease congestion and the number of private vehicles.

If the number of buses decrease, the number of private vehicles, especially motorbikes, will go up.

Le Ngoc Minh, a student at Hanoi University, said he had been using the bus for three years. "If the number of buses is lowered, I'll be forced to use motorbikes. There's no other way," he said.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, director of TRAMOC, said the issue had been discussed with the Transport Department and the city People's Committee and it was decided to try to maintain the number of buses on Xuan Thuy-Cau Giay and Nguyen Trai streets.

But bus routes will be adjusted to go around to Le Van Luong Street during rush hours.

"This is not number reduction, just local adjustment," Hai said.