Infrastructure

HCMC plans to set up bus-only lanes during rush hourBy Le Anh A scheme on priority lanes for passenger buses has met with disapproval, as the streets are said to be too narrow for separate bus lanes - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – Authorities of HCMC are working on a scheme to set up separate lanes for buses during peak hours, particularly for two hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. The move is expected to improve the speed of the buses, resulting in punctuality, and to raise the number of public transport users in the city. Associate Prof. and Dr. Nguyen Quoc Hien, head of the Traffic Construction faculty under the HCMC University of Transport, who was assigned to research bus lanes, said his team has proposed the regulation of bus lanes, of which the first 3.6-kilometer-long section will run from Dinh Tien Hoang Street to Ly Thai To Intersection, while the other lane, 2.2 kilometers long, will stretch from Dinh Tien Hoang Street to Dan Chu Intersection. Each … [Read more...] about HCMC plans to set up bus-only lanes during rush hour

Cash-strapped Vietnam Railway says dificult to increase train speed By Le Anh Passengers board a train. Slow train speed discourages passengers from traveling by train - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) is drawing up a plan to carry out essential projects, aiming to increase train speed after the National Assembly Standing Committee approved a proposal to allocate VND7 trillion to four urgent railway projects during the 2016-2020 period. However, the limited funds will be of little help in increasing the trains’ speed since the railway is deteriorating from years of wear and tear. Vu Anh Minh, Board Chairman of VNR, told the local media last weekend in HCMC that the railway sector will prioritize key projects and works to ensure public safety and increase loading capacity and train speed. “The total funding for existing railways until 2030 is estimated to be VND110 trillion and will be used to rehabilitate and upgrade deteriorating … [Read more...] about Cash-strapped Vietnam Railway says dificult to increase train speed

Ho Chi Minh Road incomplete due to lack of fundingBy Le Anh A section of the Ho Chi Minh Road running through the Central Highlands was completed in 2014 - PHOTO: LE VINH HCMC – The Ho Chi Minh Road project needs some VND21 trillion to build the remaining sections so that the entire road can be officially opened to traffic, according to the Ministry of Transport. A report by the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board submitted to the ministry indicated that 79% of the project, or 2,180 kilometers of the total 2,744 kilometers, has been completed so far. A section of the road spanning 172 kilometers is open to traffic, while the Cam Lo-La Son section, stretching 98.3 kilometers, is being prepared for construction in 2019. Work on another section, which is 289 kilometers long, has been suspended due to the lack of capital. According to the National Assembly’s Resolution 66/2013, the remaining sections are expected to be completed by 2020 to put into use the … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh Road incomplete due to lack of funding

HCMC tightens BT infrastructure investments The Saigon Times Daily Thu Thiem new urban area in HCMC’s District 2 is under construction. HCMC will tighten BT infrastructure investments – PHOTO: THANH HOA HCMC - Following the land fund scarcity in HCMC and a lack of transparency in build-transfer (BT) investment projects, the city government is striving to ensure transparency in these projects and compliance with laws, according to a news report by Dau Tu Tai Chinh. At a meeting on the city’s socioeconomic performance last month, HCMC Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong noted that the conversion of more than 26,000 hectares of agricultural land into non-farming land will follow a specific roadmap for each year. Phong added that all the information will be made public so that people can monitor the developments. In the past, HCMC has executed several large-scale infrastructure projects under the BT and build-operate-transfer investment formats, such as Phu My Bridge, … [Read more...] about HCMC tightens BT infrastructure investments

CAAV asks Lao Cai to reconsider airport projectThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC – In response to a proposal by the Lao Cai provincial government for building the VND5.8-trillion Sapa Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has requested the locality to thoroughly study the necessity and efficiency of the project, reported the local media. According to CAAV deputy head Vo Huy Cuong, the local authorities should carefully weigh the impact of other means of transport, along with the province’s economic development orientation and tourism prior to preparing a plan for building the airport. Cuong stressed that building an airport is a legitimate aspiration for any locality; however, its feasibility must be mulled seriously, regardless of whether the project is backed by private or state funding. Cuong cited the examples of South Korea and Taiwan, noting that the two have fewer airports than Vietnam but their operations still lack efficiency. This is compensated by … [Read more...] about CAAV asks Lao Cai to reconsider airport project