We’ve heard a lot over the last few years about proposed improvements to Saigon’s transportation infrastructure. These include the new Long Thanh International Airport and expanding the city center into District 2.
This week, Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, approved a master plan that will have a profound impact on the face of the city.
Under the plan:
- Buses, taxis and the metro will account for 20 – 25% of transportation demand.
- The ports along the Saigon river on Ton Duc Thang will be moved.
- 5 new highways will be built and existing ones will be extended.
- A rapid bus system operating on 5 “sky roads” 71km in length.
- Tan Son Nhat airport will be upgraded to a capacity of 23.5 million passengers and 600,000 tonnes of cargo.
- An underground urban railway system with 8 routes.
The master plan’s goal is to reduce pollution while improving safety and convenience by 2020. Considering the massive scale of these projects, especially the metro and airport, 2020 may be an optimistic timeline to say the least.
[VietnamNetBridge // Image via Hamaru's Flickr]
