The Da Nang authorities are looking at a proposal to block access to car hailing mobile applications Uber and Grab due to traffic concerns.

Cars and motorcycles on a street in Da Nang City. Photo by VnExpress

In a proposal submitted to the city’s Department of Information and Communications, the Traffic Safety Committee said the unauthorised operations of Uber and Grab could worsen traffic in the city. 

The panel subsequently asked the Department to have internet providers block access to the Uber and Grab applications. It also asked the police to investigate and punish any individual or organization found to be offering transport services illegally in the city.

Nguyen Quang Thanh, director of the Department of Information and Communications, confirmed on Saturday that the proposal is under consideration. The department, however, needs more time to study the proposal before advising the city’s government on the final decision.

The latest move comes after Da Nang, on November 25, declined to run a pilot car hailing project by Grab. In a statement sent to the Ministry of Transport, Da Nang said Grab's presence in the city would cause a sharp rise in the number of private cars and taxis, worsening congestion.

(Source: VnExpress/International/ DA NANG Today)