More Taxis, More Worries

According to the Proposal, by 2020, Hanoi will increase its number of cabs to 25,000 ones. Besides, all only in the suburb such as Soc Son, Dong Anh districts and recently extended area will be allowed to raise the number of vehicles.

 

However, it’s not difficult to recognize that given the traffic status, current 17,405 cabs (from 114 businesses) is too many. Most of them operate in the central districts. Apart from registered and labeled cabs, there are thousands of unregistered ones operating without control of the functional authority.

 

Along with the appearance of new taxi groups, famed and branded ones in the market such as Group, Mai Linh etc have continuously increased their team of vehicles, which has made the number of cabs escalate. Furthermore, some taxi firms in other provinces and cities established their branches in Hanoi city, raising the density of cabs.

 

Given their nature of regular operation in streets, the traffic in the city has been made chaotic and cramped. Central routes have seen dense cabs, and there are some areas with huge numbers of vehicles having continuously been caused congestion such as La Thanh, Truong Chinh, Lang etc.

 

The escalating number of cabs, plus the city’s lack of statutes, policies to control growth rate, planning and investment into construction of parking areas and stations, has caused taxi operation to be more troublous and cramped traffic.

 

Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang Linh, Hanoi Department of Transport said that “The Proposal for Management of Passenger Carriage by Taxi in Hanoi was prepared within Hanoi City Transport Development Plan. In coming years, the increase in the number of cabs will still depend on development of infrastructure as well as transportation means”.

 

However, Mr Bui Danh Lien – Chairman of Hanoi Transport Association indicated that increasing the number of cabs in coming years would be a mistake and totally go against the public transportation development plan currently adopted. “Given the poor road quality not catching up with the urban development, the number of existing cabs in the city is too many. Thus, no matter for what purpose it is and how the arrangements, the increase in the number of cabs in Hanoi at this time is unnecessary since it will cause disorder and put more burden on the unpleasant domestic traffic”, explained Mr Lien.

 

Moreover, according to Mr Lien, it was unreasonable to evaluate the real demand for this transport mean based on the lack during holidays and rainy days. An evidence of the surplus demand was that all taxi firms were lacking drivers as with increasing cab density, drivers’ work would be lowered down, making up pressure and affecting their life. Therefore, the number of taxi drivers quitting jobs has been so huge.

 

The large number of cabs in Hanoi has caused difficulties for taxi firms due to fierce competition. They will be in hard situation if the number keeps increasing. Hence, apart from the stop of new addition, taxi firms should be restructured. Besides, Mr Lien said that it’s not reasonable to allow bidding for the number of cabs added by periods. The reason is in transport field, only bidding for bus carriage helps to reduce State Budget while it’s not clear about what bidding for addition of cabs based on and who will monitor. “Taxi firms bidding for the addition of their cabs will suffer more costs. Finally, all these costs will be transferred to the customers”, stated Mr Lien.

According to Mr Lien, the Proposal for Taxi Management of Hanoi Department of Transport obliges the engagement of GPS devices in cabs for the operation management, which is contrary to Governmental Decree 91 not forcing the installation of GPS devices.