Downtown Ho Chi Minh M City will be transformed into a modern citycentre with more green spaces, pedestrian-only streets and efficientpublic transportation means including trams, rapid bus transits andferries.
Under a detailed plan unveiled by the city's Departmentof Planning and Architecture last week, the 930ha downtown area will bedivided into five functional areas.
The first of these areas lieswithin District 1 and covers 92.3ha. This will be the central businessdistrict of HCM City with trade, hospitality and administrationfunctions.
Together with underground metro stations, otherunderground spaces including walkways, shopping malls and car parks,this area will be developed along Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards.
Thesecond area, which also lies within District 1 and covers 212.2ha, willbe home to cultural and historical sites in and surrounding Le DuanStreet. This area currently has low construction density, so it willbe developed to have more green spaces along Le Duan Street, whichruns from the Reunification Palace to the Sai Gon Zoo.
Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street has been targeted for high-density development.
Thethird area is a multi-functional area along the basin of the SaiGon River , which covers 274.8ha. It stretches from Sai GonBridge to Tan Thuan Bridge, spanning Binh Thanh district andDistricts 1 and 4.
Under the plan, many cultural, entertainment and public space will be developed in this area.
Thefourth is the existing residential area with many French colonialvillas that covers parts of Districts 1 and 3, stretching more than232.3ha. Development in this area will be restricted in order topreserve the French-style villas.
The last area is adjacent tothe first area to the south, where high-rise buildings of more than 200metres will be allowed for development. The high-rise buildings will bedeveloped near the Ben Thanh metro station, along Ham Nghi Street,Ben Nghe canal and Nguyen Thai Hoc street extension.
Underthe plan, the city will become a more pedestrian friendly place. Majorstreets in the downtown area like the Nguyen Hue and Le Loi boulevards,Dong Khoi Street and part of Huynh Thuc Khang Street and BenThanh Market roundabout will become pedestrian areas.
Althoughthe plan mentions no timeline, it says Vo Van Tan, Pham Ngoc Thach, TranCao Van and Pho Duc Chinh are also planned to become pedestrian-onlystreets.
The city will also have several footbridges at various locations.
Undergroundworks at the city centre, which include metro stations, shopping malls,parking lots and walkways, will be connected from the September 23Park-Ben Thanh metro station, Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards and theHCM City Opera House metro station to Ton Duc Thang Street and Me LinhSquare.
The city centre will also be connected with other publictransport facilities including rapid bus transit services from District 4to District 1 and from Ben Thanh metro station to District 7.
Besides,trams along the Sai Gon River will also be developed,connecting later with the Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh district.
Theplan envisages around 70ha of new green space, including parks alongthe Sai Gon River and within the city as well as trees plantedalong many streets.
Ho Quang Toan, Deputy Director of the city'sDepartment of Planning and Architecture, said they have submitted thedetailed plan to the HCM City People's Committee for approval.
Any project undertaken in the city centre must strictly conform to the plan, he added.-VNA
Under a detailed plan unveiled by the city's Departmentof Planning and Architecture last week, the 930ha downtown area will bedivided into five functional areas.
The first of these areas lieswithin District 1 and covers 92.3ha. This will be the central businessdistrict of HCM City with trade, hospitality and administrationfunctions.
Together with underground metro stations, otherunderground spaces including walkways, shopping malls and car parks,this area will be developed along Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards.
Thesecond area, which also lies within District 1 and covers 212.2ha, willbe home to cultural and historical sites in and surrounding Le DuanStreet. This area currently has low construction density, so it willbe developed to have more green spaces along Le Duan Street, whichruns from the Reunification Palace to the Sai Gon Zoo.
Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street has been targeted for high-density development.
Thethird area is a multi-functional area along the basin of the SaiGon River , which covers 274.8ha. It stretches from Sai GonBridge to Tan Thuan Bridge, spanning Binh Thanh district andDistricts 1 and 4.
Under the plan, many cultural, entertainment and public space will be developed in this area.
Thefourth is the existing residential area with many French colonialvillas that covers parts of Districts 1 and 3, stretching more than232.3ha. Development in this area will be restricted in order topreserve the French-style villas.
The last area is adjacent tothe first area to the south, where high-rise buildings of more than 200metres will be allowed for development. The high-rise buildings will bedeveloped near the Ben Thanh metro station, along Ham Nghi Street,Ben Nghe canal and Nguyen Thai Hoc street extension.
Underthe plan, the city will become a more pedestrian friendly place. Majorstreets in the downtown area like the Nguyen Hue and Le Loi boulevards,Dong Khoi Street and part of Huynh Thuc Khang Street and BenThanh Market roundabout will become pedestrian areas.
Althoughthe plan mentions no timeline, it says Vo Van Tan, Pham Ngoc Thach, TranCao Van and Pho Duc Chinh are also planned to become pedestrian-onlystreets.
The city will also have several footbridges at various locations.
Undergroundworks at the city centre, which include metro stations, shopping malls,parking lots and walkways, will be connected from the September 23Park-Ben Thanh metro station, Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards and theHCM City Opera House metro station to Ton Duc Thang Street and Me LinhSquare.
The city centre will also be connected with other publictransport facilities including rapid bus transit services from District 4to District 1 and from Ben Thanh metro station to District 7.
Besides,trams along the Sai Gon River will also be developed,connecting later with the Thanh Da peninsula in Binh Thanh district.
Theplan envisages around 70ha of new green space, including parks alongthe Sai Gon River and within the city as well as trees plantedalong many streets.
Ho Quang Toan, Deputy Director of the city'sDepartment of Planning and Architecture, said they have submitted thedetailed plan to the HCM City People's Committee for approval.
Any project undertaken in the city centre must strictly conform to the plan, he added.-VNA
