Experts have opposed to a proposal from District 1 People Committee in HCM City to spend USD45.5m on paving the pavements with granite stones.

Nguyen Hue Street has been paved with granite stones

Doan Ngoc Hai, vice chairman of District 1 People's Committee, said there were 134 streets in which 125 streets have large pavements and two streets have their pavements paved with granite stones. The pavements are different in colours from street to street and deteriorating because companies keep digging up the pavements for underground cables and water pipes.

"The pavements will be paved with granite and have their height adjusted to be more suitable for the people and we'll plant more trees on the streets," Hai said.

He went on to say that since District 1 was in the city centre with famous destinations such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office, it attracted many tourists so the granite stones would improve the city's environment.

"Paving with granite stones is more expensive but it can help make the city appeal to tourists more," he said.

Stones with textured and rough surfaces like on Nguyen Hue Street will be used so it won't be too slippery to walk on. The authorities also designed the pavements to bear the weight of cars and motorbikes.

Pavements of five central streets include Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Phung Khac Khoan and Dong Khoi will be paved with new stones within this year. The district's pavements will be completely paved with granite by 2019. The local authorities also worked with utilities companies to limit the number times that pavements will be dug up.

Nguyen Ngoc Dung from HCM City Architect Association said, "No one will oppose if it only cost a few billion VND but one trillion or USD45.5 million, is quite another matter. I'm a little concerned because the city has lots of rains and drainage is already a problem. Granite is pretty but not good at absorbing water."

He added that the cost would surge if the authorities had to pay additional fees to create textured surfaces. Meanwhile the French had used blue stones in Vietnam and many other countries are using this stones.

Architect Tran Minh Canh agreed and said granite was often used to pave floors or stair cases in luxury houses but it did not sound very practical as a kind of stone for pavement.