Hanoi announces finalists for $200,000 challenge to solve traffic congestion

• Vietnam remains kingdom of motorbikes as sales rev up in 2016
• Hanoi to launch first bus rapid transit system this month
• Hanoi offers $200,000 prize to solve worsening traffic jams
• Hanoi motorbike ban unfeasible: traffic safety official
• Hanoi hits speed bump on road to motorbike-free city
• Choking streets force Hanoi to mull ban on more vehicles from city center

The top six ideas for solving Hanoi's chronic traffic problems have been announced by authorities in the capital.

Six teams have made it through to the first round of the competition, which will award a $200,000 prize to the winner, said Ngo Manh Tuan, deputy head of the city’s transport department.

The city plans to hold a press conference to officially introduce the six finalists selected from more than 200 applicants, Tuan said.

The candidates have been invited to submit further information on their solutions for the next round of evaluation over the next three months.

The department launched the competition in mid-January to ask for solutions from members of the public to solve its serious congestion problems.

The department asked contestants to focus on ideas involving underground parking spaces, intelligent transportation systems and ways to control private vehicles in a city dominated by motorcycles.

Statistics show that Hanoi has more than 5.5 million personal vehicles, including nearly 500,000 cars and more than five million motorcycles, and an average of over 19,000 new vehicles are registered each month. The numbers are expected to increase to more than 7.3 million motorbikes and 1.3 million cars by 2025.

Related news:

>Hanoi offers $200,000 prize to solve worsening traffic jams

>Vietnam remains kingdom of motorbikes as sales rev up in 2016

>Choking streets force Hanoi to mull ban on more vehicles from city center