The move is part of the city’s plan to reorganise coach stations.
Anadditional 200 buses will be transferred from July 20. All run onroutes of less than 200 kilometres, departing from Hanoi to the northernprovinces of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh and Hoa Binh.
Passengers tothose provinces now depart from Gia Lam Station in the outlying districtof Gia Lam, Yen Nghia Station in Ha Dong district or Nuoc Ngam Stationin the south of the city.
Department Director Nguyen Quoc Hungsaid the transfer was expected to help reduce overloading at the stationand traffic congestion in inner city areas and on ring roads.
Headded that the area surrounding the station has been experiencingincreasing increased traffic congestion because buses illegally stop topick up passengers.
At present, there are 113 daily bus tripslooking Hanoi-Thai Binh, 110 trips linking Hanoi-Nam Dinh, 52 for Hanoi-Thanh Hoa and 44 trips for Hanoi-Ninh Binh.
However, My DinhStation Director Nguyen Manh Tuan said that transferring buses from thestation to other would cause inconvenience to some passengers.
Therewere about 40 universities, colleges and many new urban areas in theneighbourhood and the bus station met the needs of many students andrural people catching buses to and from the city. Transferring wouldcost them more money and time, he said.
Transportation companies were also worried as they were operating effectively, he said.
DeputyDirector of the Thai Binh Province Transport Department Vu Quangsuggested transport companies be given more time to prepare and toinform passengers.
To reduce the inconvenience, the transportdepartment will add five rapid transit connecting stations from July,Department Director Hung said, adding that passengers could take thebuses every 10-15 minutes from 5.30am to 8pm.
In a related move,the city has also begun to crackdown on overcharging scams by taxi andcyclo drivers that have upset tourists.-VNA
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via VNTimes http://www.vntimes.info/2013/06/hanoi-changes-bus-routes-to-help.html
