Improving Urban Network

Urban development is an important driving force for socioeconomic development, a nucleus of engaging social resources and transforming the labor and economic structure of each region and each locality. To better understand urban space planning, construction and development of Nam Dinh province, our reporter has an exclusive interview with Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, Nam Dinh province. Nguyen Bach reports.

Urban space planning, construction and development plays an important role in the socioeconomic development strategy. So, in the past time, how has this work been done by the Department of Construction of Nam Dinh province?

To gradually invest in building a complete urban network for each stage of development in the province, ensure the quality and appearance of modern, civilized and sustainable urban landscape architecture, maintain and preserve local cultural values and identities, on December 31, 2019, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 3023/QD-UBND approving the Nam Dinh Urban Development Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Implementing the policy of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Construction actively coordinated with relevant departments, branches and District People's Committees to adjust town planning of districts to match with the province's socioeconomic development strategy, regional planning, sectoral planning, and field planning to create breakthroughs in urban infrastructure; ensure modern and synchronous regional connectivity; diversify resources; utilize maximal potential and strengths of each locality as an important and effective tool for State management; and catch up with new provincial development requirements. At the same time, the department facilitated the formation of urban development poles, attracted focused investment funds, ensured environmental harmony, and increased rural urbanization rates. 

Many planning projects that play an important role in the local economic development have been completed or are being completed to enable rapid development of infrastructure network, urban constructions  and housing projects such as Nam Dinh City Master Plan to 2040, with a vision to 2050; Southern Rang Dong Urban Area Construction Planning to 2040; Revised Nam Dinh - Phu Ly Roadside Planning; Hai Hau - Giao Thuy Inter-District Construction Planning; and Nghia Hung - Y Yen Inter-district Construction Planning.

With ongoing efforts to implement urban space planning, construction and development, the province currently has Nam Dinh City as a first-grade urban area; Thinh Long Town (Hai Hau district) as a fourth-grade urban area and 15 towns as fifth-grade urban areas. Among fifth-grade urban areas, there are nine district towns (Lam, Nam Giang, Ngo Dong, Yen Dinh, Goi, Lieu De, Xuan Truong, My Loc and Co Le) and six subregional towns (Quy Nhat, Cat Thanh, Ninh Cuong, Rang Dong, Quat Lam and Con). Urban areas have affirmed their role as the driving force of economic development, as the nucleus of local economic restructuring and labor restructuring.

As for Nam Dinh City,  a first-grade urban area and an economic, political, cultural and social center of the province, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 2401/QD-UBND November 4, 2021 approving Nam Dinh City Urban Development Program in the 2021-2030 period. Could you tell us how Nam Dinh province has developed its functional areas and built the Nam Dinh City Development Program?

Based on the revised master construction planning of Nam Dinh City approved by the Prime Minister and on actual potential and requirements for urban development in 2021-2030, Nam Dinh City consists of eight main areas: Existing urban center; interwoven development area to the south of Beltway 1 (National Highway 10); service and commercial urban area in the northwest; central gateway to the west of Beltway 1; new urban area to the south of Dao River; industrial, service and residential zone in the west; existing village area with ecological agriculture and sports facilities in the south of Chau Giang River; and existing village area with ecological agriculture in the south.

After more than 10 years of being recognized as a grade I urban area, the Nam Dinh city’s urban appearance has become vibrant and modern

To gradually implement the program, the Department of Construction advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a list of construction investment projects in each phase, including social infrastructure projects (housing, administrative, health, education and cultural facilities, fitness and sports training facilities, green parks and commercial services), technical infrastructure projects (transportation, water supply, rainwater and sewage collection and treatment facilities). Among social infrastructure projects, the highlight of the Program is housing development projects in the city, including Nguyen Cong Tru, Loc Vuong, Nam Phong - Nam Van, South Nam Dinh and Phu Oc new urban areas.

Among cultural, fitness training and sports projects, the province will complete building the festival center in Tran Dynasty historical and cultural complex; plan construction of South Nam Dinh Cultural Center (Nam Dinh Trade Fair and Exhibition Center); and invest in building physical training and sports facilities in new urban areas, restoring and upgrading existing physical training and sports facilities. It will continue promoting and forming concentrated commercial service areas in the northern area on both sides of Thien Truong Boulevard, Le Duc Tho Street and the road to Tan Phong Bridge.

Among technical infrastructure projects, the province will focus on restoring and upgrading National Highways 10, 38B, 21 and 21B; building frontage roads of National Highway 10 from Loc Vuong Road to Phu Nghia Street; building Ring Road 2 (from Tan Phong Bridge to National Highway 21B); building a main road linking the western gateway to roads in the northwest of Nam Dinh City; building a trunk road to the south of Nam Dinh City (from Vu Huu Loi Street to National Highway 21); and building a bridge over Dao River to connect Song Hao Street with Vu Huu Loi Street.

In the coming time, to give urban planning, construction and development "one step ahead" to become an important driving force for socioeconomic development, which solutions will the Department of Construction adopt?

The Department of Construction will further improve the quality of construction planning and actively advise planning tasks to soon complete detailed plans.

The agency will continue to counsel the Provincial People's Committee to promptly solve problems in construction to speed up the progress of public investment projects, focus on key projects to woo investors and develop technical infrastructure and social infrastructure. It will concentrate on administrative reform, raise awareness and responsibility of each organization and individual; closely coordinate with agencies and local authorities to quickly resolve procedures and documents, facilitate construction progress and enhance investment capital efficiency and construction quality.

At the same time, the department will direct investors to speed up formulation and submission of urban planning, detailed planning and landscape designs to regulators for approval; collect opinions of people, communities and organizations for formulating and adjusting planning; publicize approved plannings and promptly handle construction violations.

Thank you very much!

Source: Vietnam Business Forum