West Lake-Ba Vi highway gets go-ahead

HA NOI — The Ha Noi People's Committee has recently reversed its previous objection to the construction of the proposed Thang Long traffic axis which will link West Lake and Ba Vi District.

The decision was announced after a meeting of the National Examination Council of the Ha Noi Master Plan by 2030 with a vision to 2050.

Chairman of the committee Nguyen The Thao said that after carefully considering the project, the committee agreed that there was a need to build the axis to fulfil the need for a link between the administrative centre in Ba Dinh to Ho Tay District in the north.

The committee suggested that the highway end at Dong Mo Lake at the foot of Mount Ba Vi, but said that initially, the city should only build one section of the highway from ringroad No 3 to ringroad No 4.

Just three weeks ago, the capital's People's Committee asked the Government to reconsider a plan to move the national administrative precinct to Ba Vi District, and thus negate the construction of the Thang Long axis, saying that it was unnecessary. The committee also said that the road would require the relocation of about 300,000 residents.

The Ministry of Construction, however, insited that the road was necessary.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said that the Thang Long axis would have three functions. First, it would help ease traffic pressure in western parts of the city including the Xuan Mai, Hoa Lac and Son Tay urban areas.

Secondly, beneath the axis, a water pipeline from the Da River would supply clean water to city residents and finally, the axis was likely to attract investment in cultural and entertainment centres.

This led to a lot of opposition from experts.

The Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Association earlier this month expressed its disagreement over the issue. It said that the proposal to construct the highway lacked a scientific basis, especially considering that engineers in the capital were currently focused on other projects.

Experts added that it would be a waste of land and not suitable for traffic needs.

The Viet Nam Architects' Association said that if the administrative centre was not moved to Ba Vi District, a highway linking West Lake and Ba Vi District would be of no use to socio-economic development.

Commenting on the surprise move by the People's Committee, resident Nguyen Duy Duong said that the public would lose faith in city leaders if they continued to change their minds.

Ha Hai, another resident, could not understand why the matter had not been raised for public opinion. —VNS

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Ministry insists on new Hanoi road artery

The Ministry of Construction on August 23 affirmed that the country's national administrative centre would not be moved to Ba Vi, but noted that it was still necessary to build the Thang Long traffic axis despite the objections made by the city's People's Committee.

In the Committee's document 6496/UBND-XD concerning the future development of the capital, the committee stressed that the national political and administrative centre should be located in Ba Dinh district, where it has historically existed.

The committee recommended that the country's political centre should not be relocated to Ba Vi district, 65km northwest of Hanoi, which would negate the creation of the Thang Long axis that would connect Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Highway 21 and West Lake with the Ba Vi area.

Under the country's current economic condition in general and of the city in particular, funds raised should be invested in many other practical projects for the city, the committee said.

As planned, the traffic system to Ba Vi District would include the 10-lane Lang-Hoa Lac and 12-lane Tay Thang Long highways. The plan also calls for the construction of three urban railways that would provide additional transportation options between the city centre and its western area.

During the press meeting the same day, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said that since the master plan was submitted to the National Assembly for discussion on June 15, the relocation of the country's political and administrative centre was not further mentioned in the master plan. Toan said that there was not enough available funds to house the country's ministerial headquarters and agencies in Ba Vi district.

Headquarters would be relocated in close proximity to each other, but this does not mean that the centre would be there, Toan added.

However, the ministry insisted that the construction of the Thang Long axis would have three functions. First, it would help ease traffic pressure in the western parts of the city including Xuan Mai, Hoa Lac and Son Tay urban areas.

Secondly, beneath the axis, a water pipeline from the Da River to the inner city would supply clean water to city residents. Waste water treatment lines and underground electric cable systems would also be built. Along the axis, cultural and entertainment centres would also likely be constructed.

Deputy Minister Toan claimed that construction of the axis would not benefit any one group or individual.

Toan said that the Prime Minister would make his final decision on the future of the project soon./.

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Ministry insists on new Ha Noi road artery despite controversy

HA NOI — The Ministry of Construction on Monday affirmed that the country's national administrative centre would not be moved to Ba Vi, but noted that it was still necessary to build the Thang Long traffic axis despite the objections made by the city's People's Committee.

In the Committee's document 6496/UBND-XD concerning the future development of the capital, the committee stressed that the national political and administrative centre should be located in Ba Dinh District, where it has historically existed.

The committee recommended that the country's political centre should not be relocated to Ba Vi District, 65km northwest of Ha Noi, which would negate the creation of the Thang Long axis that would connect Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Highway 21 and West Lake with the Ba Vi area.

Under the country's current economic condition in general and of the city in particular, funds raised should be invested in many other practical projects for the city, the committee said.

As planned, the traffic system to Ba Vi District would include the 10-lane Lang-Hoa Lac and 12-lane Tay Thang Long highways. The plan also calls for the construction of three urban railways that would provide additional transportation options between the city centre and its western area.

During the press meeting on Monday, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said that since the master plan was submitted to the National Assembly for discussion on June 15, the relocation of the country's political and administrative centre was not further mentioned in the master plan. Toan said that there was not enough available funds to house the country's ministerial headquarters and agencies in Ba Vi District.

Headquarters would be relocated in close proximity to each other, but this does not mean that the centre would be there, Toan added.

However, the ministry insisted that the construction of the Thang Long axis would have three functions. First, it would help ease traffic pressure in the western parts of the city including Xuan Mai, Hoa Lac and Son Tay urban areas.

Secondly, beneath the axis, a water pipeline from the Da River to the inner city would supply clean water to city residents. Waste water treatment lines and underground electric cable systems would also be built. Along the axis, cultural and entertainment centres would also likely be constructed.

Deputy Minister Toan claimed that construction of the axis would not benefit any one group or individual.

Toan said that the Prime Minister would make his final decision on the future of the project soon. — VNS

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