Work started on the second phase of the water drainage project for Tham Lương–Bến Cát–Rạch Nước Lên Canal in HCM City on February 23. — VNA/VNS Photo Tiến Lực

HCM CITY — After nearly seven years since the first phase was completed, construction on the second phase of the project on water drainage and environmental improvement of the polluted Tham Lương-Bến Cát-Rạch Nước Lên Canal in HCM City began on Thursday.

The canal has a total length of 32.7km and spreads through the seven districts of Bình Tân, Tân Phú, Tân Bình, Gò Vấp, Bình Chánh, Bình Thạnh and 12.

The project will cost VNĐ8.2 trillion (nearly US$343 million), including VNĐ4 trillion ($167 million) from the central budget and the remaining from the city budget.

It aims to improve the quality of the environment and drainage systems, expand waterway traffic, improve the quality of life for local residents and give a facelift to areas on the banks of the Tham Lương canal, which covers about 14,900ha of land.

Some 12 boat stations, three bridges and intersections, and new lights and trees on the roads along the canal will be included.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the project, municipal People’s Committee chairman Phan Văn Mãi asked the consulting unit, construction contractors, relevant agencies, and authorities in the concerned localities to work together to ensure the progress of the project.

It is expected to create a breakthrough for the city’s urban infrastructure development, as well as boost urban embellishment and urban development, he said.

The project is part of the city’s flood-prevention master plan in the period of 2020-2045, combining with a number of other projects in water drainage and wastewater treatment, environmental sanitation and climate change response and adaptation.

It previously used loans from the World Bank (WB), but the WB terminate its funding for the project in 2017, causing it to take time to find alternative funding sources and delaying the project’s second phase. — VNS