HCMC – Despite HCMC introducing a pilot program to conduct free checks on motorcycle exhaust emissions from May 15, only 1,290 motorbikes participated in the program between May 15 and June 22, making up 21.5% of the target, according to statistics from the HCMC Department of Transport.
The city had earlier set a target to check 80-100 motorbikes each day, but only 33 were checked every day during the period.
Luu Hoang Long, a resident of HCMC’s District 9, told The Saigon Times that it was time-consuming for him to ride his seven-year-old motorbike all the way to sites in the central districts to monitor exhaust emissions.
Stressing that his motorbike was in good working condition, he said he was afraid he would have to spend money to upgrade it if it failed to meet exhaust emission standards after being checked.
Encouraging motorbike users to have their motorbikes checked for emissions was important to reduce environmental pollution, said Le Van Binh, who lives in Thu Duc District, adding that however, he did not need to get his motorbike checked as it was bought three years ago.
As planned by the municipal department, the program to study and evaluate exhaust emissions in the city will end on September 30.
Bui Hoa An, deputy director of the HCMC department, said that after the pilot program ends, the department will set up a roadmap to eliminate substandard motorcycles based on the results and evaluation of the emission checks.
The statistics also showed that as of June, HCMC had 8.12 million motorbikes registered in the city, exclusive of the number of motorcycles owned by residents from other provinces coming to HCMC to live and work.
Eight motorcycle maintenance service centers of five motorcycle manufacturers, including Honda, Yamaha, SYM, Piaggio and Suzuki, are participating in the program. These centers are located in Districts 1 and 3 and Phu Nhuan and Tan Binh districts.
By Le Anh
