Minister calls for improved urban planning

Apartment buidings have been developed in An Phu Ward in HCM City's District 2 to resettle people whose homes were in affected areas of the Thu Thiem new urban area project.— VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hai

HA NOI — The Ministry of Construction would focus on ensuring more effective urban planning, according to Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

Dung made the comments yesterday during an on-line public dialogue through the Government's e-portal at www.chinhphu.vn.

The lack of effective urban planning had resulted in many problems such as infrastructure overlap, traffic congestion, environmental pollution and a disordered urban landscape. All 760 urban areas throughout the country now had their own master plans, but many of these plans were completed after work had already begun on major construction projects.

There was also a lack of connectivity in the infrastructure systems of sub-regions, while many urban areas did not designate spaces for construction of administrative offices, hospitals or schools.

"Urban planning is still of a low quality and needs detailed adjustments," Dung said.

He said regulations on urban development management must be completed urgently to ensure synchronous and sustainable urban development nation-wide while increasing efficiency in land-use and environmental protection.

Large cities such as Ha Noi and HCM City were also in the process of setting up underground planning, while also banning super-slim houses to create more beautiful urban landscapes.

Housing projects

Regarding the quality of housing projects, Dung said the ministry would ask provincial departments of construction to enhance inspection of projects that have received many complaints about quality-related problems.

Quality problems were mainly found in housing projects for low-income earners and people that have been relocated.

"The situation would improve if the planning, design, construction, management and maintenance processes for the buildings were put under more strict supervision," Dung said.

Under the national housing development strategy to 2020 with a vision to 2030, focus would be placed on developing social housing projects such as apartments for rent and housing for low-income earners. However, the price of these apartments remained far from reach to many.

The ministry's chief inspector Pham Gia Yen said the price of low-income apartments started from VND8 million (US$380) per square metre. Prices would be lowered if investors received preferential loans from the Government.

Yen said a report on housing prices at six low-income housing projects would be publicised next month.

Responding to a question on the proposal to regulate a minimum housing area of 25sq.metre, Dung said that apartments of this kind would be appropriate to many people's demands and budgets.

Small-sized apartments were popular in many countries, including China, S.Korea, Singapore and Monaco, where apartments could be as small as 15 to 20 square metres.

Despite some signs of a real estate recovery, the real estate market would continue to encounter difficulties during this year, Dung said. — VNS