Ho Chi Minh City earmarks $88m for waterway transport projects
Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 10:59 GMT+7
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just agreed to invest VND2 trillion (US$88 million) in two projects to expand water transport and reduce pressure on overloaded roads.
The approval allows the exploitation of a number of waterways: the Kinh River and Ba Da Stream, Giang Stream in District 9, as well as the construction of the Cay Me Bridge and Dinh Bridge on Long Thuan Street in the same district.
The first project will receive investment worth VND868 billion ($38 million) with construction expected to last from 2017 to 2019 under a build-transfer contract.
The second project includes the dredging of the Tac River in District 9 and the construction of a new Truong Phuoc Bridge to replace the old one on Long Thuan Street in the same district.
The construction cost is projected to be VND1,174 billion ($51.6 million ) also in a build-transfer contract, and is expected to last from 2017 to 2019.
The two projects are intended to resolve the city’s existing traffic problems, improve water transport networks, and alleviate the current pressure on roads.
Both projects will also shorten the distance goods need to be transported from the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai Province.
Moreover, they will reduce the number of boats on the Saigon River, as well as reduce transport costs.
In addition, to reduce the current traffic pressure put on roads, especially Cat Lai Port, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Transport adjust planning for seaports in the city, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Dong Nai Province and Binh Duong Province until 2020 with an orientation toward 2030.
According to the proposal, Ho Chi Minh City will develop and improve ports and transportation networks simultaneously with an emphasis on local water transport in order to create an interconnected system of in-land ports, seaports, goods distribution and logistics.
The city also wants to develop and focus on ports in the Hiep Phuoc area, situated in Nha Be District as an alternative to the Cat Lai Port region in District 2.
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