VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a master plan for HCM City that calls for high-quality public transport that offers reasonable prices, convenience and safety.

A master public transport plan approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is expected to improve logistics service and reduce environmental pollution in HCM City.
 

The plan, which extends to 2020, also requires improvements in logistics services and reduced environmental pollution caused by all means of transport.

Buses, taxis and urban railways would cover 20 -25 per cent of transport demand.

Under the plan, ports along the Sai Gon River downtown will be moved, and several major seaports like Cat Lai, Nha Be and Hiep Phuoc will be built or upgraded.

The city will build five highways, including the 55-km HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay route with six to eight lanes; 69-km HCM City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh route with six to eight lanes; 55-km HCM City – Moc Bai with four to six lanes; 58-km Ben Luc – Long Thanh route with six to eight lanes; and 76-km Bien Hoa – Vung Tau with six to eight lanes.

In addition, the HCM City – Trung Luong Highway will be lengthened to 40 kilometres with eight lanes.

A 64-km Belt Road No 2 will be built alongside with an 89-km Belt Road No 3 and a 198-km Belt Road No 4.

The plan calls for more than 34 bridges and one tunnel to be built under the Sai Gon River. An urban railway system will have eight routes and will be built mostly underground downtown.

A rapid bus system will be set up with six routes, and five sky-roads will be built at a length of 71km with four lanes.

Tan Son Nhat airport will be upgraded to a capacity of 23.5 million passengers and 600,000 tonnes of cargo by the end of this year.

The Long Thanh International Airport in neighbouring Dong Nai Province will begin construction in 2015.

Total land for transport infrastructure in HCM City by 2020 will cover 22,305 hectares, or 22.3 per cent of the city's land fund.

Source: VNS