The Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway project, which will run through HCMC’s outlying district of Can Gio, is under construction. HCMC is planning to turn five suburban districts into urban districts or cities – PHOTO: ANH QUAN

The city’s outlying districts of Can Gio, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Nha Be act as key gateways to connect HCMC with many provinces in the southeast and southwest regions.

Due to rapid urbanization, developing suburban districts into urban ones or cities and turning communes and towns into wards are essential, the HCMC Department of Home Affairs stated in its plan to turn some suburban districts into urban districts or cities under HCMC in the 2021-2030 period submitted to the municipal government.

However, the establishment of administrative units of the urban districts or cities must be suitable to HCMC’s development until 2030 with a vision toward 2045.

Based on criteria in terms of population, area, number of administrative units, socio-economic development, infrastructure systems set up by the National Assembly Standing Committee, the municipal department has conducted a preliminary assessment of these suburban districts.

Specifically, Hoc Mon District meets all the criteria for socio-economic growth and infrastructure, while Binh Chanh District meets the criterion for socioeconomic development and 18 of 21 criteria for infrastructure.

Nha Be District meets five of six criteria for socio-economic growth and 18 of 21 for infrastructure, while Cu Chi District meets four and 16, respectively.

Meanwhile, Can Gio District meets only three of six criteria for socio-economic development and 15 of 21 for infrastructure.

The city plans to improve the suburban districts which have yet to meet some criteria to fulfill its target of turning suburban districts into urban districts or cities. When the plan is approved, the criteria will be reviewed again.

The plan to turn suburban districts into urban districts or cities will also be submitted to the HCMC Party Standing Committee for consideration.

In line with the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Resolution 1211, urban districts will be established if they meet certain criteria on infrastructure, population, area and capacity of socio-economic growth.