Only 17 percent of the capital's bus stations had shelters,according to Luong DucThinh, Vice Director of the Urban TransportManagement Centre under the Department of Transport.
He cited limited funds as the reason for not building enough shelters at bus stops.
"Itwill cost hundreds of millions of dong to build these shelters, soinvestors only build them on crowded streets where advertisements areeasy to sell," Thinh said.
The majority of the city's bus stopshelters can be found downtown on busy streets where advertisements aremore effective. However, just out of the city centre bus stops do nothave shelters.
Nguyen Thi Hoa was waiting to go home at the bus stop at 75 Dai Co Viet after her shift at a nearby restaurant.
It was already 4.30pm and the sun was still beating down while she stood waiting, and there were no trees to offer some shade.
"I have to stay here or I might miss my bus. I know it's really hot but what can I do?" said Hoa.
Shesaid even a simple shelter would make it easier for people who took thebus, especially when it rained. The big trees have been cut down andbusy shopkeepers on the street are sometimes unwilling to let strangerstake shelter in their shops.
Another reason is that residents donot want shelters in front of their houses. In Hanoi, most houses on thestreets are used for business purposes.
"We have tried manytimes to persuade residents to give their consent for shelters to bebuilt in front of their houses," Thinh explained.
Thinh saidthat the shortage of bus stop shelters was a real inconvenience for buspassengers, especially during the summer, and he assured that the centrewould work on solutions to build more bus shelters in the city.
Hesaid the only solution for the time being was to call for investmentfrom the private sector, but that would be difficult because they wouldnot want to invest on the outskirts of the city.
Deputy DirectorGeneral of the transportation company Transerco Nguyen Hoang Trungnoted the installment of bus stop shelters would have a positive impacton the city's attitude toward public bus services.
Trung saidbus stop shelters could help sway residents from other means oftransportation, especially during hot summer days. The citycurrently has some 2,210 bus stops, but only 372 have shelters.-VNA
He cited limited funds as the reason for not building enough shelters at bus stops.
"Itwill cost hundreds of millions of dong to build these shelters, soinvestors only build them on crowded streets where advertisements areeasy to sell," Thinh said.
The majority of the city's bus stopshelters can be found downtown on busy streets where advertisements aremore effective. However, just out of the city centre bus stops do nothave shelters.
Nguyen Thi Hoa was waiting to go home at the bus stop at 75 Dai Co Viet after her shift at a nearby restaurant.
It was already 4.30pm and the sun was still beating down while she stood waiting, and there were no trees to offer some shade.
"I have to stay here or I might miss my bus. I know it's really hot but what can I do?" said Hoa.
Shesaid even a simple shelter would make it easier for people who took thebus, especially when it rained. The big trees have been cut down andbusy shopkeepers on the street are sometimes unwilling to let strangerstake shelter in their shops.
Another reason is that residents donot want shelters in front of their houses. In Hanoi, most houses on thestreets are used for business purposes.
"We have tried manytimes to persuade residents to give their consent for shelters to bebuilt in front of their houses," Thinh explained.
Thinh saidthat the shortage of bus stop shelters was a real inconvenience for buspassengers, especially during the summer, and he assured that the centrewould work on solutions to build more bus shelters in the city.
Hesaid the only solution for the time being was to call for investmentfrom the private sector, but that would be difficult because they wouldnot want to invest on the outskirts of the city.
Deputy DirectorGeneral of the transportation company Transerco Nguyen Hoang Trungnoted the installment of bus stop shelters would have a positive impacton the city's attitude toward public bus services.
Trung saidbus stop shelters could help sway residents from other means oftransportation, especially during hot summer days. The citycurrently has some 2,210 bus stops, but only 372 have shelters.-VNA
