HCM CITY – HCM City needs more investment capital for transport infrastructure development, according to the city’s transport department.

Investment for urban transport infrastructure for last year was modest and below the needs of the biggest city of the country, the department said in its report on Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper yesterday.

In 2016-2020, demand for investment capital for transport infrastructure was estimated at about VNĐ500 trillion (US$22 billion).

But the city had allocated VNĐ21.6 trillion ($951 million) for 2016 and 2017, and about VNĐ41 trillion ($1.8 billion) for the next three years.  It means the total capital the city has allocated for the 5-year period is VNĐ61 trillion, about 10 per cent of demand. 

According to figures released by the department, some 22,300ha of land has been approved for transport infrastructure development, but only 7,800ha is being used currently.

The total length of roads in the city was about 4,155km, equivalent to 1.98km of road per sq.km of city area. However, urban construction standards dictate the percentage range from 10 to 13.3km of road per sq.km of city area.

The city is also short of car parking areas while more private vehicles enter the roads every year. This has led to the roads being used for parking, causing traffic jams.

At present, parking areas for public busses and taxi cabs totals 29.9ha, just 37 per cent compared to the plan.

The city also lacks funds to build new roads and bridges.

According to the department, the city has more than 1,000 bridges but many have small capacities from 30 tonnes to less than one tonne.

Many bridges in the city are also too old, with Phú Long Bridge built in 1913 and linking District 12 to the neighbouring province of Bình Dương, crowded day and night.

The bridge is accessible for under-eight tonne cars and two-wheeled vehicles only.

The city also has to pay for 24-hour patrol services on the old bridges which are still in use.— VNS