The National Traffic Safety Committee has opened 10 hotlines for people to file complaints about transport issues during the six-day national holiday starting on April 28.

Authorities will inspect operations at coach terminals and transport enterprises during the long holiday to stop buses overloading passengers and inflating prices.

The holidays, from April 28-May 3, observe three holidays - the Hung Kings' Festival, National Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1).

According to Khuat Viet Hung, Deputy Chairman of the committee, agencies and authorities have been told to ensure traffic safety during the holiday as millions of people are expected to travel to their hometowns from the major cities.

The Government has instructed all sectors to allocate enough staff to inspect and patrol.

"Passengers must know they can refuse to travel in unsafe vehicles and should buy tickets at stations instead of jumping onto buses on the road," he said.

Hung said the committee will coordinate with authorities immediately if there are complaints about overloading, drug taking or other illegal practices.

Two hundred and twenty-four traffic accidents occurred nationwide during last year's big holiday period, leaving 117 people dead and 151 injured, the Vietnam National Traffic Safety Committee said.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi, said the number of passengers was expected to increase by 30 to 50 percent during the holidays. The station has allocated 400 extra buses to meet the peak travel time demand.

The station has planned to add 150 buses on routes from Hanoi-Thanh Hoa, Hanoi-Nam Dinh and Hanoi-Thai Binh.

The number of traffic accidents often rises during holiday periods due to the increased number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Some of the hotline numbers for filing complaints: 0916608085, 0913432383, 0917908085, 043845188.

The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport to regulate traffic to ensure safety and security especially at bus stations during the long holidays when celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Reunification Day (April 30) will be held.

Transport operators and bus stations are required to keep an eye on buses leaving stations to prevent overloading and other problems.

Buses and taxis have been warned not to cause traffic jams while dropping and picking up passengers.

Meanwhile, the department has blocked off certain streets in the downtown area where the celebrations are scheduled to be held. People have to take alternative routes to circumvent the cordoned-off area.-VNA