ĐỒNG NAI —  Biên Hoà City in the southern province of Đồng Nai needs over VNĐ36 trillion (over US$1.6 billion) to implement urban renewal projects between 2016 and 2030, according to figures released at a meeting of Biên Hoà City People’s Committee on Thursday.

Under a resolution issued at the meeting, between 2017 and 2020 the city authorities will invest in urgent urban development projects to turn Biên Hoà into a first-grade urban area under Đồng Nai Province.

This would help make it an economic hub of the Southern Focal Economic Zone, including HCM City.

In the 2017 – 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, Biên Hoà will use its resources toward engineering infrastructure with the aim of becoming an industrial, cultural, commercial and service centre.

The city will need an estimated investment of over US$1.6 billion for the urban renovation and renewal projects.

Although Biên Hoà has been recognised as a first-grade urban area, it has not reached a number of criteria, according to participants at the meeting.

Biên Hoà authorities were urged to develop policies to attract resources and investors, implement major infrastructure works, and create an urban landscape as required under a grade-I urban area.

The major works that would change the face of Biên Hoà City include the construction and upgrading of roads running along Đồng Nai and Cái rivers. Meanwhile, construction of other major roads in the city will be sped up.

Biên Hoà City authorities have asked the People’s Committee of Đồng Nai Province for construction of a 5.5-km road running along Đồng Nai River, and construction will start soon after the project is approved by provincial authorities.

The city authorities are also preparing for a project to build a 4.5km road along the Cái River. Construction of the road will require relocation of about 800 households.

The city authorities have also mapped out a plan for construction of a city administrative office on a 11,200-sq.m area in Biên Hoà City’s Thống Nhất Ward.

A total of VNĐ300 billion (US$11.3 million) will be spent on the nine-story building under the PPP (Public – Private –Partnership) investment form, according to city authorities. —VNS