However, after a year, these projects remain largely conceptual. A recent meeting highlighted the need for strategic planning and proactive efforts to transform these plans into actionable projects.
On August 3, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held the fifth meeting of the Advisory Council to implement Resolution 98 of the National Assembly, focusing on exceptional mechanisms for the city's development.
Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, Truong Minh Huy Vu, assessed that after one year of implementing Resolution 98, the city has enacted a significant number of policies.
These policies provide a foundation for addressing bottlenecks and challenges and solving the city's sustainable development problems.
To date, the city council has issued 34 resolutions across various fields such as investment management, finance, state budget, urban management, environmental resources, organization of the administrative apparatus of Ho Chi Minh City and Thu Duc City, establishment of the Department of Food Safety, and management of science, technology, and innovation.
In addition, according to Vu, the city has decentralized several responsibilities to departments, sectors, and localities, which have accelerated operations compared to before.
However, Vu noted that there are still many limitations in applying Resolution 98, necessitating more robust breakthroughs and support from relevant ministries and sectors for better outcomes.
Adding strategic locations for TOD deployment
Chairing the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Vo Van Hoan, praised the progress made after one year of implementing Resolution 98.
However, he pointed out that many tasks remain unfinished or inadequately addressed due to a passive mindset, where actions are only taken when problems arise.
"Resolution 98 grants us exceptional mechanisms to take the lead in trials. But we have been passive, not preparing in advance, and only reacting when issues arise. Therefore, the results have not met the city's expectations," Hoan noted.
Hoan cited the example of the resolution permitting the city to pilot the development of TOD (a model for exploiting urban development oriented toward high-capacity public transport) along metro lines and Ring Road 3. However, departments have yet to conduct studies or update plans, leaving nothing to implement.
"We have discussed this issue but forgot about it during the process, focusing on some unspecified TOD model that is not reflected in the plans," Hoan emphasized.
He instructed the Department of Planning and Architecture to collaborate with the Department of Transport to guide infrastructure development planning with strategic locations for TOD deployment.
Once a planning strategy is in place, the city will be transparent to attract strategic investors or mobilize resources from society.
Dr. Tran Du Lich, Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Implementation of Resolution 98, emphasized the need to identify land funds for TOD implementation to auction and generate capital for projects. He advised that the land use fees from any project should be dedicated to that project and not merged into the general budget.
At the meeting, a representative from the Department of Planning and Architecture admitted that the TOD model is planned along metro lines. However, while Metro Line 1 is nearing completion, no TOD proposal has been implemented, despite over 550 hectares of public land along this line.
"The Department has submitted and advised the City People's Committee on this issue, but no investor or enterprise has registered or proposed any project," the Department of Planning and Architecture representative stated.
According to architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, three issues must be addressed when implementing TOD: innovating thinking, organizing methods, and establishing a legal corridor as a foundation.
He suggested that TOD requires a market-oriented mindset, balancing the interests of citizens, businesses, and the government. Implementation must be synchronized, meaning departments and sectors must work together seamlessly. Each department and sector has specific responsibilities but must commit to completion timelines.
"We have eight metro lines planned for future TOD deployment. However, we must complete and quickly put Metro Line 1 into operation to regain trust and attract residents, which will have a ripple effect on future lines.
Moreover, TOD implementation requires a legal corridor to enable leaders to act confidently without fear of errors," Son expressed.
Ho Van
Vietnamnet.vn
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