The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council reviewed investment proposals for three major canal rehabilitation projects at its sixth session, a special meeting held on October 29.

The proposals cover environmental rehabilitation and infrastructure development along Hy Vong Canal, urban improvements along Ba Tang Creek, and revisions to the long-delayed Bau Trau Creek project.

Together, the three projects have a proposed investment of more than VND15.2 trillion, with substantial funding allocated to land acquisition, compensation and resettlement.

Hy Vong Canal project budget rises by nearly VND2 trillion

According to a proposal submitted by the municipal People's Committee, the Hy Vong Canal rehabilitation project will be implemented in Tan Son Ward, covering the section between Pham Van Bach Street and Tham Luong Canal.

The project includes dredging the canal to a width of 6.5-11.5 meters, constructing embankments along both banks and building roads alongside the waterway with a minimum cross-section of 10 meters.

Drainage, wastewater collection and other technical infrastructure will also be upgraded.

The proposed investment has increased from VND557 billion to VND2.546 trillion, a rise of nearly VND2 trillion.

Of the revised total, approximately VND1.899 trillion will be allocated to compensation, support and resettlement, while around VND647 billion will fund infrastructure construction and environmental rehabilitation.

The adjustment reflects updated land clearance requirements, higher compensation costs and the addition of infrastructure components.

Hy Vong Canal serves as a major drainage route for the catchment area surrounding Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

However, accumulated construction debris and household waste have obstructed water flow and contributed to environmental pollution.

The proposed rehabilitation is intended to restore drainage capacity while improving sanitation and infrastructure in the surrounding area.

Ba Tang Creek rehabilitation requires nearly VND8 trillion

The Ba Tang Creek infrastructure and urban improvement project is classified as a Group A public investment project, with an estimated budget of VND7.974 trillion.

It will be implemented in Binh Dong Ward and Binh Hung Commune, with the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board expected to serve as the project owner.

The project will involve dredging approximately four kilometers of the creek and constructing a combined 6.98 kilometers of embankments along its banks.

Plans also include green spaces, 4.5 kilometers of roads alongside the creek, drainage systems, technical utility corridors and street lighting.

Once completed, the project is expected to reduce flooding across a catchment area of approximately 225 hectares while improving the landscape and living conditions for residents along the waterway.

Implementation will require about 38.2 hectares of land and affect 851 households or other cases, including 587 requiring complete clearance.

Compensation, support and resettlement costs are estimated at VND5.327 trillion, while construction expenses are expected to exceed VND2.002 trillion.

The project is scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2032.

The municipal People's Committee has proposed dividing it into two component projects, one covering compensation, support and resettlement, and the other focusing on infrastructure construction.

Bau Trau Creek investment increases more than 3.5-fold

For Bau Trau Creek, the municipal People's Committee has proposed revising an investment project originally approved by the People's Council in 2015.

Under the adjustment, the project would be renamed the Bau Trau Creek Dredging, Urban Improvement and Technical Infrastructure Completion Project, covering the section from Tan Hoa Canal to Phan Anh Street.

The project will be implemented in Phu Lam and Phu Thanh wards.

Its proposed investment has increased from VND1.343 trillion to VND4.744 trillion, more than 3.5 times the original estimate.

The project would also be reclassified from Group B to Group A, with implementation extended until 2031.

Despite receiving approval more than a decade ago, the project has disbursed only about VND1.65 billion to date.

No funding was allocated for construction work during the 2021-2025 period.

Under the revised plan, the dredging section will be shortened from 1,517 meters to 1,066 meters.

The section crossing Phan Anh Street will be incorporated into a separate road expansion project, while work near To Hieu Street will be temporarily postponed because a new box culvert has already been installed.

The main construction components include concrete embankments, roads alongside the creek measuring 10-20 meters wide, green spaces, drainage systems, lighting, two slab bridges and a box culvert.

The project is expected to require the acquisition of more than 38,218 square meters of land, affecting 312 cases, including 184 requiring complete clearance.

Compensation, support and resettlement are projected to cost more than VND3.405 trillion, accounting for over 71% of the total investment.

Construction expenses are estimated at approximately VND1.006 trillion.

The municipal People's Committee has proposed merging two previously separate compensation projects in the former District 6 and Tan Phu District into the overall project.

It would then be divided into two components covering compensation and resettlement, and infrastructure construction.

More than VND10.8 trillion proposed to expand two western roads

At the same meeting, the municipal People's Committee submitted two additional transport infrastructure proposals with a combined budget exceeding VND10.805 trillion.

Of this amount, approximately VND9.043 trillion, or more than 83%, would be spent on compensation, support and resettlement.

The first proposal concerns the upgrade and expansion of Tan Ky Tan Quy Street, revising an investment plan approved in 2015.

The project would be extended from its original 636 meters to 2.9 kilometers, running from Binh Long Street through Le Trong Tan Street to Cong Hoa Street.

It would pass through Tan Son Nhi, Tay Thanh and Tan Binh wards.

The expanded road would have a width of 30 meters and accommodate six traffic lanes.

The estimated investment would rise from VND656.92 billion to VND6.479 trillion, nearly ten times the original budget.

The project would be upgraded from Group B to Group A and implemented between 2027 and 2032.

More than VND5.58 trillion would be allocated to compensation and resettlement, while construction costs are estimated at approximately VND257.58 billion.

The city has also proposed terminating two previously separate compensation projects and incorporating them into the revised overall investment plan.

The second proposal concerns the expansion of the Phan Anh - An Duong Vuong road corridor, covering the section between Hoa Binh Street and Ba Hom Street.

The project has an estimated investment of VND4.326 trillion and is scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2032 in Phu Lam, Phu Thanh and Binh Tri Dong wards.

The approximately two-kilometer road is currently 14 meters wide and would be expanded to 30 meters.

According to the proposal, Phan Anh Street is among 48 flood-prone locations identified in the city's 2026 rainy-season flood prevention plan.

Compensation costs are estimated at more than VND3.461 trillion, while construction expenses would total approximately VND413 billion.

Most of the funding would be required in 2027, when the city expects to allocate VND3.31 trillion.

The two road projects, alongside the proposed canal rehabilitation works, reflect the city's efforts to address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies, improve flood prevention and upgrade urban living conditions.

Phuoc Sang