However, joy comes with no less worry. Because this project was once stalled for 5 years, even though it has completed about 94% of the volume.
A large-scale project, with an investment of nearly 10,000 billion VND, exposed to sun and rain in the city while people still have to wade through water every time it rains heavily or there is high tide, that is a huge waste.
How can it not be wasted, when there is only a few percent of work left, but the project cannot "reach the finish line", leading to incurred costs, degraded equipment, and people's trust being eroded with each rainy season.
Meanwhile, flooding continues, directly affecting people's lives, production, traffic and health.
According to Ho Chi Minh City leaders, the core obstacles of the project have basically been removed so far and the city also affirms that the project is eligible to be completed in 2026.
The investor committed to continuous construction, strengthening quality control, labor safety and close coordination with functional agencies to accelerate progress.
That information is necessary, but for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, that is still not enough.
Because reality shows that people have witnessed many key infrastructure projects behind schedule, over budget, promising many times but also delayed many times.
The tide control culvert project is not simply a technical project, but also a commitment to the people about a city that better adapts to climate change, reduces flooding, and improves the quality of life.
Therefore, every time a project is delayed, the price to pay is not only money, but also anxiety, fatigue and the trust of society in the capacity to manage and organize implementation.
What people are waiting for at this time is not only progress reports but also an official commitment that the 10,000 billion VND tide prevention project will be completed in 2026.
That commitment needs to be accompanied by a transparent monitoring mechanism, specifically assigning responsibilities to each department, sector, and each person in charge, not allowing new bottlenecks to arise.
The 10,000 billion VND flood control project is a big expectation of Ho Chi Minh City in the fight against flooding and climate change. Restarting is an important starting point, but only when the project is truly completed and put into operation on schedule, will the joy be complete.
People have waited too long, so what is needed now is a strong commitment and drastic action.
