New transport plan given thumbs up

A transport development plan for the southern key economic zone has been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The plan calls for improved infrastructure and growth rates of 7-9 per cent a year in passenger and goods transport.

The plan to 2020, which extends to 2030, calls for building 580km of new expressways and major provincial roads, as well as upgrading existing roads.

Under the plan, 80 per cent of rural roads would be paved by 2020.

The zone comprises HCM City and neighbouring provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Tien Giang.

It targets transporting 1.3-1.4 billion passengers a year by 2020, with an annual growth rate of 8-9 per cent a year.

The zone plans to reach an annual goods transport growth rate of 7-8 per cent, transporting about 500-550 million tonnes of goods a year.

Of that figure, 265-306 tonnes of goods would be transported via seaports.

To meet the targets, the plan calls for the development of deep-sea ports in Vung Tau City, Dong Nai Province and HCM City and completion of the task of relocating existing ports on the Sai Gon River.

It will also upgrade the zone’s inland waterways and existing airports to meet transport demand and complete the construction of and operation of the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province.

When completed, the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport will have for a capacity of 25-30 million passengers a year.

The plan also calls for the completion and upgrading of the north-south railway route section in the zone, with the HCM City railway system linked with other provinces’ railway systems in the zone.

It will give priority investment to expressway projects, including the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay; the expansion of National Highway No 51; and the building of ring roads No 3 and No 4 and elevated roads in HCM City.

The plan will also generate investment capital from all sources at home and abroad, including the State budget, Official Development Assistance loans from foreign donors, private investors and public-private partnerships. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam transportation