Commercial hub traffic congestion raises national concern

Traffic jams are hindering the economic development of Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest commercial hub and of the whole country as total number of registered vehicles reaches 4.4 million, the Vietnam news agency said citing the Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai as saying.

"The current traffic congestion is not only a problem of Ho Chi Minh city but also an issue concerning the whole nation," Hai stressed in a meeting with local leaders in an effort to ease the burning issue in the city.

He also instructed the city's leaders to consider researching and working with ministries and branches to come up with new initiatives and solutions to the issue, the Vietnam news agency said.

Hai also gave few suggestions to improve traffic congestion namely to increase people's awareness, strengthen traffic inspection and management work, speed up transportation infrastructure development projects, and also to improve the city's bus service.

According to the municipal Department of Transport and Communications, there were 69 serious traffic congestions in the months to December this year, up 25 in comparison with the same period last year.