HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội’s population had spiralled out of control with the capital’s total number of residents already exceeding the target set for 2030, according to a report by the National Assembly.

In a report on the five-year implementation of the Law on the Capital which granted Hà Nội authorities unique jurisdiction to develop the city, the NA’s Committee on Judicial Affairs said that Hà Nội’s population had reached 9.6 million in 2017 – the same number set out for 2030 in the city’s master development plan.

The committee estimated that the population was very likely to climb to nearly 10.5 million in 2020, a figure previously forecast for 2050.

The report also found that Hà Nội had failed to meet a target of reducing the population in four downtown districts where the number of residents has continued to increase.

The total population of Hoàn Kiếm, Ba Đình, Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng districts was recorded at 966,806 people in 2013, and expanded to more than 1.13 million last year.

The four districts together with Thanh Xuân and Cầu Giấy had the highest population densities with an average of 30,500 people per km sq, according to the report.

“Overcrowding has left Hà Nội unable to balance infrastructure growth with the demand, leading to other consequences to economic and social development,” the report concluded.

Apartments mushroomed    

According to the judicial committee, Hà Nội was supposed to issue guidelines on urban planning and architectural standards in the four downtown districts in 2013 as part of efforts to reduce the population density.

However, the long delay had resulted in several apartment projects mushrooming and attracting more people.

Rough statistics from 2017 showed that Ba Đình District had approved the construction of seven high-rise apartment projects which were all located on main streets like Liễu Giai, Đội Cấn, Giảng Võ, Láng Hạ and Yên Phụ.

Đống Đa District also had seven projects while Hai Bà Trưng authorities gave the green light to six buildings.

“Hà Nội had even failed to comply with regulations set by the Ministry of Construction regarding construction density and the height of buildings,” the report said. — VNS