A project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expected to help Hanoi ease traffic congestion in the near future.

The project, lasting from July this year to 2014, was introduced at a press briefing in Hanoi on Nov. 11. It aims to increase the number of people using public transport services through improving managerial capacity and piloting transport activities by buses to ease traffic jam in the capital city.

According to Takagi, an expert from JICA, the increasing number of personal vehicles and restrictive infrastructure are the main causes for traffic congestion in Hanoi, especially during peak periods during the morning and evening.

He said that along with infrastructure development, the authorities need to improve service quality and take financial measures to encourage the locals to use public transport service, especially buses, in a bid to solve the issue./.