Traffic jams regularly occur at the western gateway of HCM City during peak hours. The city plans to invest VND950 trillion (US$41 billion) in transport infrastructure from now to 2030.

The city’s Department of Transport has submitted its transport infrastructure development plan to 2030 to the People's Committee.

The plan includes 639km of roads, 78 bridges, 18 intersection projects, 32 static traffic projects, five projects under a smart urban programme, 211.9km of urban trains and bus rapid transit (BRT) routes, and 379km of inland waterways.

About VND429 trillion ($18.5 billion) in funds are needed for transport infrastructure works from this year to 2025, and more than VND523 trillion ($22.5 billion) from 2025 to 2030.

Of the total investment capital, more than VND457 trillion ($19.7 billion) will be allocated from the city’s State budget and the remainder will be sourced from the Central Government budget as well as public-private-partnership investment, official development assistance (ODA) and other sources.

The city’s State budget will be used to carry out programmes to reduce traffic congestion and accidents, key transport infrastructure, compensation payments for land clearance for ODA projects, and transport projects that connect Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Cat Lai Port, and the Hiep Phuoc Port project.

Other capital sources will be used for the Belt Ring Road No 3 and 4 projects, expressway projects, Cat Lai and Can Gio bridges, metro lines, inland waterway ports and dry ports, new inter-provincial bus stations, BRT and cargo terminals.

The department in collaboration with the Southern Transport Consultation and Designing Joint Stock Company (Tedi South) will carry out the plan. It will draw up a roadmap for a modern transport infrastructure system that improves connectivity and reduces congestion and accidents.

It will also focus on research to develop radial axes, high-capacity highways, ring roads and inter-regional links and roads to new urban areas and industrial parks, as well as urban roads linking new urban areas, industrial parks, waterway ports and airports.

In the 2016-20 period, the city completed 51 of 172 key transport projects, reaching 29.7 per cent of its target.

They include Phu Huu Bridge on the Eastern Ring Road, an upgrade of Pham Van Dong Street; expansion of Phu Huu Port; and building an overpass at the Truong Son-Tan Son Nhat - Binh Loi - Outer Belt road intersection, the An Suong tunnel, the My Thuy underground tunnel and an intersection at National University of HCM City.  VNS

Transport infrastructure works progress slowly, official admits

Lack of funds is the main reason for the slow progress of several major transportation works in HCM City, the city People’s Council heard at a session last week.

HCM City kicks off major traffic projects to ease congestion

HCM City has kicked off 13 major traffic projects with total investment of VND3.5 trillion (US$149.12 million), according to the city’s Management Board for Traffic Works Construction and Investment.