Locals on Nguyễn Thị Định Street in Thủ Đức City are demolishing their houses, moving them back to give land for a road expansion project. - Photo laodong.vn

HCM CITY - Many houses on Nguyễn Thị Định Street in Thủ Đức City are being demolished or moved back to give space for a project to widen the road to help reduce traffic congestion.

The expansion project, which covers a 2km segment of the street (from Giồng Ông Tổ Bridge to Mỹ Thủy Bridge), was approved in 2015 to widen the road from 8m to 30m, with an investment of VNĐ1.4 trillion (US$54.8 million) for land clearance compensation and construction.

Due to complications with land clearance, the project was delayed. At the end of 2023, the city People’s Council increased the project investment to nearly VNĐ2.08 trillion, with over VNĐ660 billion extra for land clearance compensation.

Many households have taken down parts of their buildings after receiving the compensation, moving their houses back around 5m to 7m.

Nguyễn Văn Bình, a local, told Lao Động Newspaper that he had hired workers to break down and rebuild his house after handing over nearly 40m2 of land for the project.

The street is small, so traffic congestion and accidents often happen, so he hoped that the road’s expansion would be carried out soon.

The Compensation and Clearance Board of Thủ Đức City said that they are actively working with localities and relevant organisations to encourage people to receive their compensation and hand over land for the expansion project.

Currently, the city has issued over 1 trillion to over 300 households, and expects to hand over all of the land needed for the project within this year.

According to the investor of the project, the Construction Investment Project Management Board in Thủ Đức City, after receiving all of the land, contractor bidding will be held in 2025, and the project can be finished and put into service in 2026. - VNS