Illegal parking spaces should be temporarily permitted: experts More and more illegal parking spots for cars and motorbikes are springing up in central Hanoi, causing headaches for urban managers.    Parking lots along Phung Hung Street in Hanoi. - VNS Photo Thai Ha The illegal car parking spaces have not brought any money to the State budget but caused unsafe traffic and social security, according to Kinh Te & Do Thi (Economy & City) newspaper. With limited infrastructure facilities, some urban management experts suggested authorities consider granting temporary permits to the illegal car parking lots to bring more funding to the State budget and improve management, the paper reported. According to Ha Noi Police, the city has about 5 million motorbikes and more than 500,000 cars, not including 1.2 million vehicles travelling in and out the city regularly. Meanwhile, the land for static traffic works in the city has met only about 8-10 per cent of demand. Current legal car and motorbike parks can only accommodate 10 per cent of demand, according to the Ha Noi Department of Transport. This was one of the reasons for illegal parking spaces. Most illegal car parking spaces are located on empty land of empty construction sites, deserted agricultural land and on sidewalks, streets and residential areas. The huge income was not paid to the State budget or used for investing in infrastructure. These parking spots are also at risk of fires and theft, with vehicle owners often left with no recourse if a fire strikes or their property is stolen. Temporary measures Nguyen Thang Long, head of Dinh Cong Ward of Hoang Mai District said to wipe out the illegal car parking spots, the city had to build more underground and car parking buildings. “However, this could not be done overnight,” he told the paper. As a temporary measure, Long suggested the municipal authority consider granting permits. Some urban transport inspectors agreed with Long. The authority should grant 3- or 6-month permits to use empty land of awaiting construction areas and deserted agricultural land areas to set up car parking spots, they said. By doing so, the parking spots’ owners would be more responsible for traffic regulations and fire safety, they said.    VNS