Review and adjust planning: Creating momentum for HCMC's development

Ho Chi Minh City currently has 3 general plans with 613 approved zoning plans. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has directed relevant units to review and adjust the plans according to the city's general socio-economic development orientation.

Project on track

According to the report of the Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City, from July 1, the boundary of Ho Chi Minh City has been expanded after the arrangement of administrative units and facilities for planning according to regulations requiring unified planning. Ho Chi Minh City currently has 3 general plans in effect and being implemented.

In particular, the two general planning projects in Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces were previously approved before the Project to adjust the general planning of Ho Chi Minh City to 2040, with a vision to 2060 (Decision 1125 of the Prime Minister). Therefore, organizing the establishment (adjustment) of zoning plans is an important task to implement according to Decision 1125.

Thu Thiem area, An Khanh ward is planned to become the International Financial Center of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang Hung

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction said that the department is coordinating with the People's Committees of wards and communes to review and propose basic zoning plans based on criteria such as compliance with the general plan; conformity with the boundaries of 168 wards and communes, and orientation for the organization, appraisal and approval of urban and rural planning of the city. "The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction recognizes that the nature of the general plans established in the recent past have basically met the socio -economic development requirements of localities, especially the living, working and investment needs of local people.

Regarding the general planning of Ho Chi Minh City (Decision 1125), the regional connectivity with neighboring provinces and cities was taken into account during the preparation process. Therefore, the general planning of Ho Chi Minh City will have the basic foundation of approved urban planning; propose new breakthrough contents based on the space and strengths of each region, creating momentum for socio-economic development of Ho Chi Minh City", the report of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction stated.

Regarding the connection and adjustment of planning contents within the overall boundary of Ho Chi Minh City, geographically, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau were previously separated by the boundaries of rivers such as: Saigon River, Dong Nai River and Thi Vai River; the connection is through bridges and inter-provincial traffic routes. Therefore, the department proposes to increase traditional traffic connections and also synchronously connect the public transport network and inter-regional transit traffic.

Allocate resources appropriately

Assessing the current planning of Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Development Planning Association, stated: “Previously, the planning of the three localities of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau was included in the overall planning of the Southern Key Economic Zone. These plans were approved as basically reasonable and suitable for the strengths of each region. If there is any adjustment, only the border areas between the previous localities should be reviewed.”

Thu Thiem area, An Khanh ward is planned to become the International Financial Center of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HOANG HUNG

According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Nguyen, the three provinces and cities of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, whether merged or not, have no change in the planning of their territories in terms of infrastructure. However, when investing to implement the planning, it is necessary to adjust resources appropriately. Accordingly, which projects and works need to be invested first and which projects need to be invested later must be calculated to develop the economy and society synchronously.

Sharing the same view, Dr. Khuong Van Muoi, former Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects, also said that the new planning needs to inherit, adjust and integrate from the previous planning of the three localities to create a "global megacity" and not just the addition of administrative boundaries.

Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a multi-center urban area, with satellite and supporting urban areas such as a financial - technological center located in the old urban core; a satellite urban system in Cu Chi, Thu Dau Mot, Ben Cat, Di An, Vung Tau; and ancillary areas supporting industry - logistics - coastal tourism.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just sent a document to the Department of Finance, the Institute for City Development Studies and other units, conveying the opinion of the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on reviewing and adjusting the planning of Ho Chi Minh City after the rearrangement. The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Institute for City Development Studies to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to advise on the construction of items and contents that need to be established and adjusted in the planning of Ho Chi Minh City after the rearrangement.

Along with that, build a cost estimate for planning establishment and adjustment based on the items and contents of planning establishment and adjustment. The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to advise on perfecting the Ho Chi Minh City Planning Project Management Board for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, in the direction of adding the task of being the agency to establish and adjust the city's planning; send it to the Department of Home Affairs for appraisal and submission to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

After the Government issued a Resolution on solutions to continue implementing planning work associated with the arrangement of administrative units while the Law on Planning (amended) has not been issued, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to preside over and coordinate with the Institute for City Development Studies and relevant agencies to advise and complete the Plan to organize the adjustment of the planning of Ho Chi Minh City after the arrangement.

THANH HIEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ra-soat-dieu-chinh-quy-hoach-tao-dong-luc-phat-trien-tphcm-post812051.html