Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang yesterday required the Department of Transport’s leader to work with investors and related sides to soon expand Highway 13 to 60 meters in width as per plan.
They should try to implement the project this year as the highway plays an important role to not only Thu Duc district but also citywide and other provinces in the southern region, Thang said.
If the city wants to become the center of the region, it must connect traffic with other provinces. The city’s leaders will work with provincial leaders on the connectivity.
Director of the Transport Department Bui Xuan Cuong affirmed that the department will soon implement the highway project.
Cuong reported the most difficulty now is site clearance, which is estimated to cost VND4.4 trillion (US$179.25 million) to expand the highway to 53 meters and VND3.2 trillion to 42 meters. If HCMC widens the road to 60 meters as Binh Duong province has done, it will cost a huge capital.
Secretary Dinh La Thang proposed the department to work with the HCMC Finance and Investment state-owned company to find capital source for the expansion. On the other hand, the department must study the use of existing land and housing funds to have funds for the project.
According to secretary of the party committee in Thu Duc district Huynh Thanh Nhan, Highway 13 has been congested with a large volume of vehicles travelling from Binh Duong province to the city everyday. He hoped that the city and related departments will give assistances to carry out the project, adding that the city's authorities soon announce detailed planning on Binh Trieu railway station in Hiep Binh Chanh District. The 41 hectare project has been planned since 2003 but yet to take off affecting the life of 3,257 households.
Director Bui Xuan Cuong said that implementation of the Binh Trieu railway plan has also met with capital difficulties. The Ministry of Transport has been seeking funds to set up road limits and implement the project.
Secretary Dinh La Thang required the Department of Transport to inform citizens of the railway station’s detailed plan and set up road limits by the third quarter this year at the latest.
