HCMC infrastructure projects powering on

Work is continuing on two major Japan-funded infrastructure projects in the city, contrary to rumors sweeping the city that the projects had been halted by the suspension of Japanese aid loans to Vietnam.

Work was continuing on both the East-West Highway and HCMC Water Environment projects, HCMC Transport Department Deputy Director Le Toan said.

“I have not been informed by related authorities to halt the two projects,” said Toan, who was last month assigned to oversee the two projects. “I don’t think the situation is dire enough to stop the two projects but if it happened, it would be really bad for us.”

Toan replaced Huynh Ngoc Si, who was suspended on November 19 this year after being accused of taking bribes in exchange for helping Japanese Pacific Consultants International win consulting contracts on the project.

A Tokyo court last month heard Si received more than US$820,000 in bribes from PCI executives. The court was hearing evidence in the trial of the executives. Last week, Japan announced it was halting nearly US$700 million in official development assistance (ODA) loans to Vietnam until both countries had finished investigating the bribery scandal.

Toan said PCI is still consulting on the highway project while awaiting instructions from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. However, payments to PCI for its work on the HCMC projects had been halted.

A representative from Japanese contractor Obayashi Corporation, which is working on the East-West Highway Project, Sunday confirmed the project was continuing as normal, with most of the heavy work already completed.

“If the project was extended, the disadvantages would escalate for everyone involved,” he told Thanh Nien on condition of anonymity.

Head of the management division of East-West Highway Project, Vuong Hoang Thanh said the project was 65 percent complete.

Meanwhile, 97 percent of construction for two main packages of HCMC Water Environment Project’s first stage has been completed so far, according to the project’s management division head Dang Ngoc Hoi.

However, Hoi said more barriers would be erected on some streets in districts 5, 10 and 11 to carry out the work for the other packages. The barriers would remain in place until 2010, he said.

The East West Highway Project, which started in early 2005, became the city’s biggest infrastructure project when it attracted investment capital of VND9,863 billion (US$660 million); $428 million was Japan ODA and the remainder was funded by the HCMC government.

The 22-kilometer highway will run through eight districts. Work includes 16 bridges and the 1.5 kilometer Thu Thiem Tunnel being built under the Saigon River.

Meanwhile, the HCMC Water Environment Project’s first stage is to construct a sewage system on the lowlands of the canals of Tau Hu, Ben Nghe, Doi and Te.

PROGRESS OF THE TWO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

East-West Highway Project

• Calmette and Khanh Hoi bridges: due to be completed in January 2009

• Cha Va and Y bridges: due to be completed in March 2009

• Cat Lai roundabout (highway east’s end): due to be completed in 2010

• Highway opens for traffic due in late 2009

Water Environment Project (first stage)

• Street barriers due to be removed by late June next year on the streets of Tran Hung Dao, Ton Duc Thang, Tran Tuan Khai, Tran Dinh Xu, Nguyen Canh Chan and Nhieu Tam.

• More street barriers to be put up on Tran Binh Trong, Su Van Hanh, Chau Van Liem, Thuan Kieu and Ly Thuong Kiet streets.

• Dong Dieu Pump Station and Binh Hung Wastewater Treatment Plant in District 8 due to be completed in February 2009.

Source: thanhnien