Breakthrough for green city

The Urban Area Development Class II Project (Green City) will help Hue improve its transport infrastructure, becoming eco-friendlier and adapting to climate change.

Nhu Y River will be refurbished. Photo: Ha Nguyen

Various great items

Flood prevention, environmental sanitation and transport system development are the main contents of the Urban Area Development Class II Project (henceforth “project”), with the Department of Planning and Investment as the lead investor, which is being built and deployed in the province. This project is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and partly by loans from the locals.

Bui Thi Xuan Street (Hue City), from Long Tho junction to Luong Quan alluvial ground, is an important public route and also the main route for tours to Thuy Bieu Ward but has been downgraded for a long time. When the project is implemented, the entire road will be renovated as well as getting new layer of asphalt. Along with Bui Thi Xuan Street, Huyen Tran Cong Chua street will also be renovated on many aspects.

In An Van Duong new urban area (Huong Thuy town), many green spots and important routes are also given priority in investment. There are items such as embellishment of tree, sidewalks, drainage and lighting systems at the central eco-points of An Van Duong new urban area; building parks, trees and squares at the concentrated administration area; especially, a new bridge will be built over the Nhu Y River linking Sector A and B of this new urban area.

Mr. Nguyen Tran Nhat Tuan, Deputy Director of the Management Board of the provincial urban development area, informs that this unit is now working closely with the investors to quickly implement the items in the area. “The Management Board is the coordinating unit, and afterwards, will take over the management of the post-investment items. For that reason, we coordinate very closely to most effectively implement the project,” Mr. Tuan affirmed.

In the flood prevention and environmental sanitation components, the project will prioritize dredging and refurbishing some sections of river embankments in the area. They are 5 major tributaries: Ke Van, Lap, An Hoa, Dong Ba, Nhu Y and An Cuu rivers. These items have been approved by ADB, which will help the local government in pollution control and improving the environment, ensuring the main factors in building green cities as initial target.

Together with the Water Improvement Project that Hue city has been implementing in the south of the city, the project backed by ADB will continue to improve the drainage system and sidewalks in 4 wards in the center of the city with a total of 16 roads getting refurbished.

Hue always focuses on planning tree in city. Photo: Vy Dang

A total investment of over 1,600 billion VND

Due to rapid urbanization, most people living in the cities of Vietnam are facing new challenges, both socio-economic and environmental ones. Responding to these complex constraints requires strategic supports in city planning and identification of effective investment activities. As a result, the Government and ADB have chosen Hue City, Ha Giang and Vinh Yen (Vinh Phuc) to pilot the development of specific green components in the urban infrastructure of the city.

In early July, the project was officially signed between ADB and Thua Thien Hue, Ha Giang and Vinh Phuc provinces, with a total value of USD 223,87 million. For Thua Thien Hue, in particular, it is USD 72.52 million, equivalent to more than VND 1,600 billion.

Mr. Le Dinh Khanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment said, together with the Water Improvement Project in Hue city, the urban development project that the department is implementing is considered a large and complex project. As from now, the selection of 15 investment sub-projects, including 3 components based on criteria of environment, transport, capacity building and project support has been completed by the lead investor as well as approved by ADB.

By Ha Khanh Nguyen