A playground for kids in Tao Đàn Park in HCM City. Under the new decentralisation plan, the city’s commune-level authorities will soon be tasked with managing such small-scale infrastructure. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — HCM City has decided to decentralise the management of certain types of technical infrastructure to commune-level people’s committees in a bid to enhance efficiency and accountability.

Municipal People’s Committee vice chairman Bùi Xuân Cường last week conveyed instructions from the city’s leadership regarding the principles and criteria for the new management framework.

The decision follows a proposal by the city’s Department of Construction aimed at creating a more integrated and streamlined system for managing technical and transport infrastructure across the city.

Under the new plan, commune-level authorities will oversee small-scale and localised facilities.

These include rainwater drainage systems within a commune’s boundaries, level-4 regulating reservoirs, drainage canals and ditches without inter-commune connections, localised wastewater systems serving residential communities, public gardens of less than one hectare, parks within residential areas, and privately operated lighting systems.

This approach ensures that small, community-based infrastructure is managed directly by local authorities who understand the needs of their neighbourhoods, according to the city’s Department of Construction.

For special zones and island communes such as Thạnh An Island, commune-level people’s committees will take on full responsibility for technical infrastructure systems, reflecting their unique geographical and administrative characteristics.

Meanwhile, larger projects that have wider technical complexity or inter-regional scope will remain under the management of specialised units of the Department of Construction.

These include major public parks, the citywide system of street trees, urban lighting networks, and special-grade facilities.

By clearly defining which level of authority manages what, the city aims to prevent overlaps in responsibility and ensure better resource allocation.

Towards a two-tier governance model

The municipal People’s Committee has also assigned the Department of Construction to work with the Department of Justice in reviewing administrative procedures and providing detailed guidance for implementation to ensure compliance with national laws.

The decentralisation is part of the city’s broader transition to a two-tier local government model, under which responsibilities between the city and commune levels will be more clearly delineated.

Experts say the move is expected to improve efficiency in infrastructure maintenance, increase accountability at the grassroots level, and enhance consistency in the city’s overall urban management strategy.

Home to more than 10 million people, the city faces ongoing challenges in drainage, green space management, and urban lighting.

Localised flooding during heavy rains, for instance, remains a persistent problem in low-lying districts, underscoring the need for more responsive and community-level solutions. — VNS