Road upgrading in Hanoi will be suspended from December 30 through to Lunar New Year (Tet) which falls in February 2011, the Hanoi Transport Department announced.

The department said it had already stopped licensing road projects and has asked all on-going street work be completed no later than December 30.

The ban is aimed to ensure safe traffic and a cleaner environment for people.

Regular inspections will be made to deal with any violations.

In a related move, the municipal People's Committee Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Khoi asked the Lighting and Urban Equipment Company to light up streets with new decorative lighting from December 25.

Flower decorations and panels welcoming the upcoming Party Congress will be put up at the Party's National Headquarters, and Presidential, Government and National Assembly offices, and other public sites./.