VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City will need over 13 trillion VND (611 million USD) to build and repair roads this year, a local newspaper reports, citing information from the municipal Department of Transport.

Illustrative image. – File photo

The city will start work on several transport projects such as roads linking Thai Van Lung street to Ton Duc Thang Street, Ba Chiem Bridge to Hiep Phuoc industrial park, Nguyen Van Bua Street to Hanoi highway and the embankments along East-West Highway’s canal, said The Saigon Times Daily.

The implementation of ongoing projects like Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi outer ringroad, provincial roads 10 and 10B, and Soai Rap dredging will be accelerated so that they can be completed this year.

Ho Chi Minh City will continue to call for investments in the remaining sections of Beltroad No. 2, Binh Tien Bridge and a tunnel at An Suong intersection.

Bui Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of the department, said this year’s funding demand for traffic infrastructure projects amounted to over 13 trillion VND, with 7 trillion VND from the city’s budget, 2.3 trillion VND of ODA loans and 3.757 trillion VND for maintenance and commuter bus subsidy.

The estimated capital of build-transfer (BT) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects is around 3.62 trillion VND while the amount used by districts for site clearance and construction of roads is about 4 trillion VND.

With 13.133 trillion VND, the city is looking to have 45 more kilometers of road with an area of 397,000 square meters and build 10 new bridges.

In addition to building roads, flood control projects will continue to be carried out to eliminate at least six of the 11 existing flood-prone sites. Besides, at least 215 kilometers of pipe will be installed to supply clean water.

Regarding public transport, the sector targets to serve 650 million bus passengers this year.    

Source: Vietnam Plus