HCMC speeds up traffic system to connect with neighboring provinces

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong, his Deputy Le Van Khoa, relevant agencies yesterday and the Ministry of Transport worked on traffic situation in inner city and traffic system to connect with neighboring provinces.
 
Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro (PHoto: SGGP)
Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro (PHoto: SGGP)
Director of the municipal Department of Transport Bui Xuan Cuong said that increase in population and vehicles leads to traffic congestion in many roads; additionally, people’s low awareness worsened the problem.
Relevant agencies enhanced control at 37 gridlock- prone streets yet ten of them have seen traffic jams.
Deputy Chairmam Le Van Khoa said that city administrations expected the Ministry’s backing to tackle the problem in the inner city. The traffic congestion is most likely to take place in Tan Son Nhat Airport’s surrounding area.
At present, HCMC is set to implement 22 overpass projects in front of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and opened to traffic some, hopefully, helping reduce traffic congestion in the area around the airport.
However, the road from Tran Quoc Hoan to Cong Hoa has seen a hiccup because it goes through the land of the Ministry of Defense. Accordingly, People’s Committee asked the Ministry of Transport to help by working with the Ministry of Defense over the matter.
The second congestion-prone is Cat Lai Port; HCMC proposed the Ministry of Transport to coordinate commodity transportation between ports to reduce pressure on Cat Lai Port; therefore, it will minimize the risk of traffic jams
Transport Minister Truong Quang Nghia confirmed the back on HCMC’s projects by sending document to the Ministry of Defense about the land facilitating the path connecting Tran Quoc Hoan street to Cong Hoa street.
Minister Nghia said that it is high time to save the area surrounding Tan Son Nhat Airport because the airport is scheduled to receive 36 million passengers a year. He asked the the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to quickly liaise with related agencies to build a reservoir in the airport to prevent flooding and ensure airport safety and operations.
When it comes to resolution for traffic congestion in Cat Lai Port, Minister Nghia said Cai Mep – Thi Vai port in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau was invested to receive ships with the capacity of 160,000 tons and over yet it has not worked at its full capacity. Accordingly, commodity shipments should be transferred to Cai Map – Thi Vai to help reducing pressure on Cat Lai Port and help Cai Mep – Thi Vai develop more.
Moreover, city administration expected the Ministry of Transport to propose to the Prime Minister on the pause of granting business license on 9-seater sedan till the city issue the vehicle planning and road system suitable for the sedan’s travelling.

As per the Department of Transport, nearly 8 million vehicles travel in the city and the road system is overloaded. Deputy Transport Minister Nguyen Van Dong said it is within the reach of the People’s Committee.
Answering the proposal to improve railway Binh Trieu - Hoa Hung to delete the intersection between the railway and the road in the inner –city, the Ministry of Transport said that the state budget is imbalanced the upgrading can not be done.

Nevertheless, the maintenance of trains will be carried out in Binh Trieu station and only one train travels into Hoa Hung station; this helps cut half of train travelling through inner-city.
Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said that city authority knows that development attach with connection with neighboring provinces. At present, around 13 million people live in the city resulting in overloading in traffic system and society system. HCMC thus proposed the Ministry to build more roads to connect the city with neighboring provinces.
The city also plans to connect HCMC traffic system with the Mekong delta. Last time, the city administration worked with authorities in the Mekong delta provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho on the construction of railway HCMC- Can Tho.
After completion of the railway, residents in the Mekong delta can return their home after working in HCMC, it helps to reduce overload in the city.
Therefore, the Ministry of Transport should speed up the construction progress of the Ring Road No.2 and the Ring Road No.3 especially expressways to connect HCMC and provinces.
Minister Nghia said that because Vietnam’s public debt rises, it is hard to call for investment in infrastructure; yet the railway to connect HCMC and the Mekong delta provinces is a good project, the Ministry will take heed to find investors.
HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong informed in the middle of August, the city will convene a meeting to call for investment in the city's infrastructure system.

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