A view of Bạch Đằng Park in HCM City's District 1. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

 HCM CITY — HCM City People’s Committee chairman Phan Văn Mãi has asked relevant departments and agencies to quickly renovate the appearance of the city’s downtown area.

Regarding two projects on developing the night economy and service economy of District 1, the municipal People’s Committee has assigned the Planning and Architecture and Transport departments to consider the Department of Tourism’s opinion on constructing embankments and installing wharves to ensure both aesthetics and sanitation.

Other ideas from relevant units should be studied when the Department of Planning and Architecture works with District 1 to develop a detailed construction plan at a scale of 1:500 for Bạch Đằng Park in District 1.

This plan must be reported to the city’s Consultation Council on Architecture prior to submission to the municipal People’s Committee for approval this year.

The Planning and Architecture Department is tasked to preside over and coordinate with the Transport Department and authorities of Thủ Đức City, District 1 and Bình Thạnh District on the planning of the location, scale, and functions of wharves along the two sides of Sài Gòn River from Thủ Thiêm Bridge No.1 to the Thủ Ngữ flagpole.

Regarding the project to exploit the potential of the city central area, the city’s Department of Home Affairs is assigned to collaborate with District 1 to first collect opinions from relevant departments and agencies to complete the project plan, before submitting it to the Standing Committee of the municipal Party’s Committee for consensus in implementation.

The Department of Transport will work with related businesses and units to relocate current wharves as part of the city’s urban planning by 2025, ensuring the commercial rights of those enterprises.

The task force on developing the urban space in the city centre must provide directions for the installation of parking lots and underground commercial centres, traffic development, and the use of underground space.

This task force should propose plans and investment attraction methods for the construction of facilities on and under the ground of Bạch Đằng Park, 23/9 Park, Bến Thành Market, Bến Thành Metro Station, and the streets of Lê Lợi, Nguyễn Huệ, Tôn Đức Thắng and Hàm Nghi.

The Department of Transport is asked to review current traffic flows in front of Bến Thành Market for an optimal traffic routing plan to ensure safety and order.

The department is also asked to cooperate with the Planning and Architecture Department and District 1 to regulate traffic in the area by this December.

District 1 is required to propose a detailed plan to build a park and restore the statues of Trần Nguyên Hãn and Quách Thị Trang in front of Bến Thành Market by this December. — VNS