New parking places, fees set in Vientiane

The new agreement comprises six articles, the first of which describes how the Mayor has directed the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority to repair old parking areas and allocate new spaces alongside roads, as well as setting parking fees.

The authorities are asked to cooperate with Vientiane residents to create parking places in suitable areas to reduce traffic jams and road accidents and to make the city more orderly and attractive, it advised.

The second article details the number of vehicles allowed to park in 18 locations around the city. For example, Mahosot Hospital has been allotted 38 parking spots, while there is space for 58 vehicles at the Patuxay Monument .

The third article explains parking fees in more detail, stating that the price to park will be 3,000 kip, for vehicles that are parked for not more than three hours. Additionally, the fee schedule notes that the authorities will receive 60 percent of the fee, 30 percent will go to the individual or company who operates the service and 10 percent will go to the government.

The agreement will come into force on September 10.

Now that Road No 1 is 85 percent complete and Setthathirat Road has reopened to traffic, parking places along this road are ready for use.

It is expected that Road No 1 will be fully resurfaced in October and the whole project will end in November.

Road No 1 is of great importance since it is used by arrivals at both Wattay International Airport and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge , including important guests and tourists, to connect to Vientiane . The stretch undergoing improvement has been damaged over years of use and contains many potholes, and is also prone to flooding during the rainy season.

The project involves rebuilding 27 km of the road in a 2-year project with assistance from the Japanese government. The road is being surfaced with asphalt to improve safety and comfort.

The project is divided into two sections. The first section includes three short stretches - along Samsenthai Road between Thatkhao traffic lights and the King Fa-ngum statue; from Chinaimo fork to Nonghai traffic lights; and from Salakham village to the Thanaleng warehouse.

The second section runs from the King Fa-ngum statue to the Sikhay fork. This is expected to be finished by this year.

Vientianetimes/Asian News Network