Buyers are staying away from new apartment projects in the eastern area of HCM City largely because of container truck traffic on nearby roads heading toward Cat Lai seaport in District 2.
Cat Lai seaport in District 2 is the biggest container seaport in the country with more than 10,000 trucks every day.
The eastern area, which extends from Sai Gon Bridge toward Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces, includes district 2, 9 and Thu Duc.
Modern infrastructure, including highway and flyover bridges, has been built in the area, to accommodate the increasing number of buildings.
"With the huge number of big trucks, the area's traffic has become worse, and residents hesitate to live there," Associate Professor and Dr Nguyen Trong Hoa, former head of the HCM City Development Research Institute, was quoted as saying in the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.
"The traffic situation is the worst problem for real estate businesses. Big trucks travelling the entire day on the long stretch of road is not good for residents," the director of one real estate company said.
In a recent report, District 2 leaders announced that only 25 per cent of new urban projects have residents. Within the next five years, they will try to double the number of residents in those projects.
A representative of the municipal Master Planning and Architect Department said centres that receive big containers, like Cat Lai port, should have a railway system to transport commodities.
However, in the Viet Nam Seaport Master Plan up to 2030, Cat Lai would be the only port for southern provinces, while Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port in the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province would be an international and regional port with good conditions.
Investment in a railway system should be for Cai Mep – Thi Vai, not for Cat Lai.
"The railway system requires a high investment, but it needs a long time to return the capital. So, it will be used for long-term development," Hoa said.
"Cat Lai Port is still very important for HCM City as well and southern provinces. Investment for a railway system for the port is not possible," Hoa added.
