HCMC – The transport authority of HCMC is annually allocated some VND10 trillion to implement traffic infrastructure projects but this amount is inadequate to meet the city’s needs, noted Tran Quang Lam, director of the municipal Transport Department.
The insufficient funding has led to many inadequacies in the city’s transport system, he told a meeting of the municipal People’s Council to review the implementation of key traffic projects in the city, which was held on June 10.
Given a surge in the population growth and traffic volume, if the city does not invest heavily in traffic infrastructure projects, its streets are expected to have their capacities exceeded by 1.55 times by 2025 and the figure could be higher in the following years, the official stated.
However, on the bright side, traffic in the city has considerably improved since 2015, with several traffic projects proving effective. Of the total 172 projects executed to reduce traffic congestion and accidents, 39 were completed, while work on 78 other projects has begun, Lam added.
The Transport Department is working with relevant agencies on a scheme to develop the city’s infrastructure system, which has basically been completed. Under the scheme, they reviewed the entire infrastructure system, released forecasts and simulated traffic issues that may crop up in the future to map out effective measures to boost the city’s transport growth.
