HN to charge vehicles emission fees in some areas

Illustration photo

At a meeting held on November 3, delegates reviewed the implementation of Resolution 04/2017/NQ-HDND, dated July 4, 2017 of the People’s Council which passed the Project on “strengthening management over road transport vehicles to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution in Ha Noi in the 2017-2020 period with a vision towards 2030.” 

A draft resolution on target program to reduce traffic jams and ensure transport safety in Ha Noi in the 2021-2025 period was put on the table for discussion.

Especially, delegates gave feedback on a project on levying emission fees on motor vehicles entering some areas in the city as a way to minimize traffic congestion and environmental pollution. 

Data from the Viet Nam Environment Administration show that the air in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City has been dirtied with particulate matter, or PM, a mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets, for decades.

Ha Noi ranked seventh most polluted capital city in the world in 2019, according to a report released this week by Switzerland-based air quality monitor, IQAir AirVisual. The city’s worsening air quality saw its average PM2.5 level last year rise to 46.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air from 40.8 in 2018.

As of early 2019, Ha Noi had about 6.5 million vehicles registered, about two million vehicles from other localities and other specialized vehicles circulating in the city. The local authorities have made great efforts to expand the road network, optimize traffic regulation and raise drivers’ awareness, however, traffic jams still occur in many places, and emissions from vehicles are seriously threatening the capital’s environment./.

By Khanh Phuong