In 2008, Ho Chi Minh City granted a license to Dong Duong Group Company Limited to implement an underground parking project at Trong Dong stage, but people only listened. The remaining two projects planned at Tao Dan Cultural Park and Hoa Lu Stadium are also not looking hot.
Projects on paper, but increased vehicles are a reality on the ground.
Ho Chi Minh City currently manages more than 12.7 million vehicles, including cars and motorbikes, which are dumped on the streets every day, not to mention the number of vehicles from other provinces.
No parking lot, vehicles occupy the road, this is also the cause of traffic congestion. Without parking lots, motorbikes are layered on the sidewalk, obstructing pedestrians, and spoiling the urban beauty.
With just a built underground parking lot, a large number of cars and motorbikes will be released on the ground, Ho Chi Minh City will have a modern, spacious urban face, airy streets, and convenient transportation.
Therefore, the proposal to develop a 12.5ha underground space complex in Ben Thanh area, including a central metro station, a commercial - service area and an underground parking lot needs to be supported to be implemented as quickly as possible.
Developing underground space is not only a parking lot, but exploiting an additional layer of urban space to create a living and business environment, creating many benefits for the community. In that space, there will be many shops, entertainment areas, cuisine, and finance, providing full services to people and tourists.
In densely populated cities around the world, the government solves the problem of "land cramped with people" by using urban classes in underground space very effectively. Refer to the success of those urban areas to implement underground space projects for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
We have discussed the night-time economy a lot, so it is necessary to identify that underground space is a very important part to develop this model.
Information about the Ben Thanh underground space project is good news for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, but don't be left unreserved on paper like the previous 4 projects, which have disappointed the people.
To do so, the government needs to remove all obstacles that businesses investing in underground space projects have encountered. Support and promotion through appropriate mechanisms from authorities will help businesses confidently start implementing and speeding up the project's progress.
