Billions of US dollars have been, and will be, invested in infrastructure projects in HCM City this year. What are the major projects?
This year, the transport sector will work with relevant sectors to mobilise capital to stimulate investment, and strive to finish key projects including the Phu My Bridge and its sub-projects. The sub-projects include some bridges and roads linking the 1A National Highway to the Thu Thiem Tunnel and are part of the East-West boulevard. We will finish other projects such as street connections between Nguyen Van Troi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia streets; Cong Ly Bridge to Nguyen Van Cu Bridge Road; the second phase of the north-south axis street; and the second phase of the Thu Thiem Bridge to Nguyen Van Bua Street.
The Government has allowed the city to issue a US$1 billion urban bond. The municipal People’s Committee plans to use the money to improve the infrastructure and drainage system. What will be its priorities for these sections?
We will consult with the People’s Committee about which projects to invest in.
We will also push for projects that will help ease traffic jams, such as the East-West boulevard; the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien urban railway route; the Ha Noi Highway expansion; the construction of Binh Trieu 2 bridge road; the inter-provincial highways linking HCM City with Long An; the HCM City to Long Thanh-Dau Giay highway; and the Tan Son Nhat to Binh Loi route and its surrounding ring road.
As for drainage projects, we will implement the city’s environmental hygiene project in the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe area, and the project to improve the city’s water and urban development.
That means that the city will remain a big construction site this year. For a long time, local residents have complained a lot about delayed infrastructure projects which have caused inconveniences in their daily life. How will the transport department ease this situation?
We plan to continue digging 56.7km for 61 routes in the city this year. Of those, many are main transport routes such as Le Van Sy; Cach Mang Thang Tam; Nguyen Dinh Chieu; Vo Thi Sau; Hai Ba Trung; Tran Quang Khai and Phan Dinh Phung streets.
To reduce the impacts of this digging on people’s lives, we will implement some solutions. One of the solutions is to give responsibility to individuals and organisations to check-up on and supervise the work throughout the course of respective projects. We will also focus on removing obstacles to the issuance of construction permission, and build traffic diversions to create the most favourable conditions for speedy construction.
How will contractors be punished for delays?
The city has solved most delayed constructions lately. After introducing strict punishments, many contractors have pledged to mobilise workers and materials to ensure construction progresses. Besides, we are determined to change contractors who don’t meet the requirements. All have so far increased their speed.
This year, we will continue to impose strict punishments on contractors who don’t ensure progress, construction quality and traffic and environment safety standards. Those who violate regulations will be punished. There will be no exception for contractors who don’t follow the regulations outlined in their contracts. (VNS)
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