The capital city's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 7.6 percent in the first six months of the year, 1.7 times higher than the nation's GDP, which grew at 4.5 percent, the city announced on July 10 on the first day of a five-day meeting of the city's People's Council.

Based on the results, the council will be looking at ways to help reach the city's development goals for the rest of the year, while approving six plans in the fields of traffic, tourism, culture, water drainage, irrigation and land use towards the year 2020.

Vice Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee Nguyen Van Suu said export turnover reached 4.8 billion USD, 7.2 percent higher than the same period last year, while import turnover fell 8.6 percent to 11.5 billion USD and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in June decreased by 0.17 percent.

However, difficulties in agricultural and industrial production and illegal construction projects and land use remained, he said.

Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung said these results serve as a solid base to implement the city's targets for the whole year and ensure social security.

He said the city should implement effective methods to tackle shortcomings.

Chairwoman of the Municipal People's Council Ngo Thi Doan Thanh said deputies should pay attention to working out practical measures.

Suu said the city will focus on assisting enterprises with difficulties they faced in production and trading activities.

Measures to minimise violations on urbanisation plans and construction projects, and to improve the effectiveness of state investment and ensure social security will be worked out, she said.

Nearly 1.95 trillion VND (92.5 million USD) is expected to be funnelled into building bridges, installing traffic-monitoring equipment and enlarging roads to ease traffic jams in Hanoi between 2012-15.

Deputy Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee Nguyen Van Khoi said traffic jams regularly occurred during rush hours in inner districts such as Dong Da, Thanh Xuan and Hai Ba Trung, having a negative impact on people's lives. The city planned to tackle at least 27 traffic jam hotspots and lessen the duration of traffic jams by 40 percent.

He said major measures have been put forward in a target programme to reach these goals.

Specifically, a system of 240 new cameras and traffic lights will be installed at busy traffic intersections to supervise traffic jams and road violations.

The city will also develop a digital map and database to assess the seriousness and duration of traffic jams so effective adjustments can be made to traffic lights and control systems.

There are also plans for 10 flyovers and eight bridges crossing the city's rivers during the five-year period, and 60 roads and streets will be improved and enlarged.

Traffic on 25 streets in inner districts will continue to be re-routed, and relevant authorities will raise public awareness regarding traffic laws to improve safety.-VNA