Ho Chi Minh City will need over 13 trillion VND (611 million USD) tobuild and repair roads this year, a local newspaper reports, citinginformation from the municipal Department of Transport.

Thecity will start work on several transport projects such as roads linkingThai Van Lung street to Ton Duc Thang street, Ba Chiem bridge to HiepPhuoc industrial park, Nguyen Van Bua street to Hanoi highway and theembankments along East-West Highway’s canal, said The Saigon TimesDaily.

The implementation of ongoing projects like Tan SonNhat-Binh Loi outer ringroad, provincial roads 10 and 10B, and Soai Rapdredging will be accelerated so that they can be completed this year.

Ho Chi Minh City will continue to call for investments in theremaining sections of Beltroad No. 2, Binh Tien bridge and a tunnel atAn Suong intersection.

Bui Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of thedepartment, said this year’s funding demand for traffic infrastructureprojects amounted to over 13 trillion VND, with 7 trillion VND fromthe city’s budget, 2.3 trillion VND of ODA loans and 3.757 trillion VNDfor maintenance and commuter bus subsidy.

The estimated capitalof build-transfer (BT) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects isaround 3.62 trillion VND while the amount used by districts for siteclearance and construction of roads is about 4 trillion VND.

With13.133 trillion VND, the city is looking to have 45 more kilometers ofroad with an area of 397,000 square meters and build 10 new bridges.

In addition to building roads, flood control projects will continue tobe carried out to eliminate at least six of the 11 existing flood-pronesites. Besides, at least 215 kilometers of pipe will be installed tosupply clean water.

Regarding public transport, the sector targets to serve 650 million bus passengers this year.-VNA