Currently, a total of more than 80,000 cars and 890,000 motorcycles are in use across Da Nang. In reality, the current pace of infrastructural development might not catch up with the rapid increase in population, and thus in the volume of personal vehicles, hereby causing complicated congestion. One of the types of vehicles causing great pressure on local traffic is the over 30-seater coaches.

The ban on the operation of over 30-seater coaches in the inner areas is expected to be extended

A large number of road users have expressed their strong annoyance with the operation of over 30-seater coaches causing the partial congestion along some downtown streets, especially during rush hours.

According to civil engineer Le Thanh Tu, a member of the municipal Bridge and Road Association underlined a need to develop a public transport system, restrict the operation of large vehicles in the city centre, and build more parking lots far from the downtown area.

Mr Le Van Trung, the Director of the municipal Department of Transport, said, many travel agencies usually use 30-seater coaches to satisfy the travel by tourists, hereby causing traffic pressure in the city center.

In an effort to alleviate this matter, the municipal administration has given a ban on over 30-seater coaches from some streets between 5.00pm and 6.30pm daily with the aim of reducing congestion in the city centre during rush hours.

The banned streets are Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ly Thai Tong, Hoang Thi Loan, Dien Bien Phu, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Nguyen Huu Tho, Duy Tan, 2 September, Bach Dang, and 3 February and Nguyen Tat Thanh.

The ban came into effect on 1 March 2018, and administrative fines have officially imposed on violators since early April 2018.

Furthermore, the municipal Department of Tourism has worked with the city’s Tourism Association, the Travel Association, tourism businesses and travel agencies to suitably arrange the time to carry visitors to such tourist-packed attractions located in the city centre as the Da Nang Cathedral, known to the locals as ‘Nha Tho Con Ga’ (Rooster Cathedral), the Han Market and the Museum of Cham Sculpture, along with some busy streets. The intention is to avoid traffic gridlock in the inner city during rush hours.

In the coming time, importance will be attached to upgrading a number of key intersections such as the western ends of Tran Thi Ly, Rong (Dragon) and Tien Son bridges.

Also, a project to build a smart traffic monitoring system on the build-transfer (BT) basis and the construction of parking lots, including underground one, will be carried out in the coming time.

Noticeably, the municipal Department of Transport is scheduled to submit a proposal to restrict the use of private motor vehicles in the inner city to the municipal People’s Committee next month for approval, especially extending the ban on the operation of over 30-seater coaches in the inner areas.