On February 16, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Mr. Phan Van Mai chaired a meeting of the Advisory Council to deploy the implementation of Resolution 98/2023 of the National Assembly on piloting some mechanisms and policies for the special development of the city. Special Advisory Team for the construction and development of the city’s urban railway system.
At the meeting, the Council members and the expert team focused on providing comments on the plan for the development of the urban railway system (Metro) combined with the model of developing urban areas according to the orientation of developing public transport (TOD) in the area.
Dr. – architect Ngo Viet Nam Son believes that Ho Chi Minh City’s completion of a 220km urban railway by 2035 is a challenging task. Therefore, the city needs a different mindset and approach compared to the current one.
Dr. Ngo Viet Nam Son provides opinions at the meeting. (Photo: Vu Phong)
Therefore, Mr. Son proposed the establishment of Metro and TOD Group (developing urban areas according to public transport) as a joint stock company. The first component is the relevant department; and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is the “conductor”, being the shareholder with the highest stake in the group, coordinating the departments in a smooth manner.
Mr. Son also believes that Ho Chi Minh City needs to approach multi-disciplinary thinking, not just single-disciplinary. Relevant departments should participate in the creation and implementation of the plan.
In addition, Mr. Son also proposed the establishment of a project implementation board for TOD because Resolution 98 has delegated authority and the Central government also supports Ho Chi Minh City in adopting this approach, first in the country.
Consistent with this view, Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Khuong, a member of the Advisory Council and the Advisory Board on urban railways, believes that an action alliance comprising of the country’s elite forces in urban railways and representatives of ministries, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, experts and international investors should be formed to develop the Metro system together.
Concluding the meeting, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, affirmed that not only in terms of urban railways but also other issues of the city, the City People’s Committee will approach multiple disciplines, overall, with the goal of sustainable development and putting people at the center. That’s why Ho Chi Minh City has established many steering committees and task forces, because only one department cannot solve the problem.
Regarding the proposal to establish Metro and TOD Group, Mr. Mai said that they will further study this issue and when to establish it, at which stage, the city will conduct research.
