The Ha Noi Construction Blueprint with a vision to 2050 is expected to be sent to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for consideration by the beginning of next month. Vietnam News Agency reporters spoke to Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the municipal People's Committee; Vu Thi Vinh, deputy secretary general of the Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association; and Nguyen Ngoc Huan, a Ha Noi resident, about the proposed new plan.
What do you think about the blueprint and its importance to the capital?
Nguyen The Thao
Nguyen The Thao
This has been the capital's first major planning project since expanding into Ha Tay, Me Linh and Hoa Binh. The plan is aimed at mobilising investment capital, training human resources, developing science and technology, environmental protection, co-operation expansion with central agencies, accelerating administrative reform and improving management.
Such form of construction is integral to Ha Noi becoming an industrial and modernised city one or two years ahead of schedule and, linked with regional programmes, a key element in national socio-economic development.
Vu Thi Vinh
Ha Noi, recently expanded, with around 10 million inhabitants making it one of the 14 largest capitals in the world, has been in desperate need of a well-structured development plan to help lead it into the modern future. While the process won't be easy, with a clear construction plan, it is certainly achievable.
Nguyen Ngoc Huan
Being a resident from Ha Tay, I think the new construction plan would help the newly expanded city develop its economy and infrastructure while attracting human resources from neighbouring provinces.
The important thing to consider, however, is how the plan could be implemented most successfully based on capital resources. While transport investment has long been a contentious issue, several ongoing projects related to it, amongst others, are to be stopped in favour of the new construction plan. Such a move could negatively affect the environment and leave local people high and dry, having already given up cultivation land alongside areas such as the Thang Long Boulevard.
What challenges could the capital face in implementing the new construction plan? What solutions could you suggest?
Nguyen The Thao
Upon its approval, people need to be made aware regarding the details related to the new construction plan in order to ensure the unified development of greener, modern urban and rural areas alongside the retention of important cultural elements.
As part of the new plan, we will do our best in effectively implementing Government Resolution 11 aimed at curbing inflation and ensuring social security.
Vu Thi Vinh
Ha Noi aims to build a competitive economic and political society. To achieve this, it will need to first pay attention to current difficulties related to transport, water supply, electricity, information and communications as well as various social issues, which have increased as part of an expanded city sphere.
Management capacity has been a major problem in ironing out kinks in Ha Noi's cables alongside costs of US$13 billion associated with transport development and an increasing urban population.
While the new plan has set out the construction of five satellite and five ecological urban zones, it has failed to define the function of any of these areas as well as exactly how they are to be managed and developed.
Nguyen Ngoc Huan, a resident in Tu Liem District
Due to Ha Noi's current array of incomplete development projects, I think it could be hard to attract additional investment and human resources as well as avoid overlapping between programmes
In addition, with the capital's expansion, the gap between urban and rural areas has widened.
While the new construction plan could transform the city, some say it could erase its cultural eccentricities. What is your views on such opinions?
Vu Thi Vinh
Vu Thi Vinh
While the issue has certainly been up for debate, the new construction plan aims to build a green, modern and civilised city whilst keeping it culturally unique based on its beautiful lakes, trees, pagodas, its Old Quarter, villages and traditional trades, etc. If we can manage this, we would not only be preserving an ancient city, but also ensuring a modern one.
Nguyen Ngoc Huan
I think the new construction plan, based on sufficient research, could help build a modern city while retaining its traditional elements. With new satellite urban areas and the moving of administrative agencies to the My Dinh area, the city's Old Quarter and other could certainly be preserved.
Is the new construction plan feasible and how could it be effectively implemented?
Vu Thi Vinh
Seeing as some aspects of the plan remain unclear, it is hard to comment on its effectiveness. While the city is set to gain 60 per cent more green space, how this will be achieved has not yet been defined.
I think that the Government, while luring investors, should clarify what has to be done and how in order to avoid wasting investment capital.
Nguyen Ngoc Huan
Although I think that the plan is a pre-condition in helping Ha Noi enhance its potential for sustainable development, it will definitely take some time to implement.
People need to be made aware of the plan in order to ensure unified development and de-centralisation in terms of job opportunities and the linking of satellite areas.
How much assistance do you think the city would need in successfully implementing its plan?
Nguyen The Thao
Ha Noi, as the country's heart, will receive support from the Government, authorities, relevant ministries and agencies nationwide in order to effectively implement the new construction plan. — VNS
