Project to renovate the longest canal in Ho Chi Minh City faces many difficulties

TPO - Construction units are ensuring the progress of the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canal project. However, during the construction process, the project is facing many difficulties in terms of material sources, land re-encroachment, and construction across many power lines and telecommunication cables.

On the afternoon of February 22, at the Press Conference providing information on socio-economic issues in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Huy Binh, Head of the Planning and Investment Department - Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board, informed about the progress of the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len Canal Infrastructure Construction and Environmental Improvement Project.

This is a key project, solving multiple objectives (urban beautification, flood control, environmental improvement and traffic connection), the project was started on February 23, 2023. Up to now, the project is being implemented according to the set plan.

Project to renovate the longest canal in Ho Chi Minh City faces many difficulties photo 1

The Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canal project is ensuring progress but facing many difficulties (photo: Duy Anh)

Mr. Binh said that in 2023, the project was assigned 2,039 billion VND and has disbursed 100%, construction exceeded the set plan. Currently, contractors are focusing all resources to speed up the construction progress of 10/10 packages with main construction items such as: canal embankment; road and traffic bridge items; secondary culverts; drainage system, lighting, park trees. Up to now, the overall progress of the entire project is estimated at 35%.

However, implementing a large project with a site spread across many districts (including 7 districts) in a rapidly developing area with high population density inevitably poses difficulties during implementation.

According to Mr. Binh, the current difficulties of the project include: land reclamation work, re-encroachment; construction under high-voltage, medium-voltage, low-voltage power lines and telecommunication cables; legal problems with the site for receiving soil and mud from the construction process of project items, and the source of sand for filling, concrete sand and plastering sand.

Faced with the above situation, the Urban Infrastructure Board is coordinating with relevant units to urgently resolve difficulties. For matters beyond its authority, the Urban Infrastructure Board has reported to its superiors. Currently, the City Party Committee and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City are assigning relevant departments, branches and districts to coordinate with the investor to resolve difficulties to ensure overcoming all difficulties and completing the project before April 30, 2025.