Electric and telecom wires in Ho Chi Minh City are being put underground, part of local authorities’ drive to improve the look of the streets.

The system of electric and telecom cables, which locals refer to as the “spider web,” on several major streets in the city has been installed below ground, bringing a fresher appearance to some areas, according to what Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters have observed over the last few days.

Residents living on these streets are also pleased to know that the “spider web” will no longer exist.

The old system of electric and telecom wires was messy and created the feeling of discomfort for people living along the streets, according to Huynh Duy Dong, a local resident.

It also posed myriad risks of accidents for dwellers and passers-by whenever a broken wire fell on the ground, Dong said.

Ever since the wires are installed underground, the aesthetics of the streets, the sidewalks and houses along them have been significantly improved, he added.

EVN HCMC, a state-owned power supply firm, is cooperating with major telecom companies, including Viettel, VNPT, SCTV and others, to carry out 38 projects on the subterranean installment of electric and telecom wires in the city in 2015, a representative said, adding that 10 of them have been completed.

The rest will be finished within this month, with some expected to be done in quarter two of 2016, the representative said.

He also added that an additional 32 projects of the same kind will be executed by EVN HCMC and its partners next year to improve the wire and cable system of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thirty-five percent of the city’s electric and telecom wires will be put underground by 2020, according to the municipal administration’s plan.

All of the wires in District 1 and District 3 will be transferred below ground while the ratio in other districts such as Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan is 50 percent, the plan says.

This means that about 1,800 kilometers of wire on the streets and 2,000 kilometers of cable over the alleys would have to be put below the surface in order for the goal to be met.

There has been concern among the public over the safety of the installment, as many of the city’s areas are often affected by flood and rising tides.

However, Vu Hoai Nam, deputy head of EVN HCMC’s planning department, asserted that the safety is ensured as the wires are made of material that can withstand flooding.

Bodies responsible for the work have to submit detailed plans to the Ho Chi Minh Department of Transport in order for construction to be scheduled and carried out, preventing excessive building that could exacerbate traffic jams and affect the lives of local residents, said Pham Quoc Bao, deputy director of EVN HCMC.

Aside from enhancing the city’s urban aesthetics, the new wire and cable system will boost the safety and stability of services after risks from extreme weather conditions or falling trees are removed, Bao explained.

The total cost for the installment for 2016-20 is expected to be VND4.300 trillion (US$191.3 million).

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