On February 22, Mr. Dau An Phuc - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board ( urban Infrastructure Board - investor) said that the Xuyen Tam canal renovation project is completing procedures to start construction in April 2025, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.
The project initially had a total investment of more than VND9,600 billion, but was later adjusted to increase to more than VND17,000 billion, most of which was compensation and site clearance costs.
In particular, compensation funds have increased from nearly VND6,600 billion to nearly VND14,000 billion due to the application of new compensation prices under the 2024 Land Law.
According to Mr. Dau An Phuc, the project is divided into three packages. Package XL-03 from Luong Ngoc Quyen Street to Vam Thuat River in Go Vap District is expected to complete contractor selection before March 15 to start construction before April 30, 2025.
The remaining two packages, XL-01, from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Bui Dinh Tuy bridge and XL-02, from Bui Dinh Tuy bridge to Luong Ngoc Quyen street, including Binh Loi, Binh Trieu and Cau Son canals, are expected to complete the contractor selection in the first quarter of 2025.
Although the plan to start the Xuyen Tam canal renovation project is clear, the site clearance work still has many problems.
In Go Vap district, the project needs to reclaim 2.5 hectares of land, affecting 138 households, of which 40 households were cleared.
Currently, only 35 cases have been handed over, Go Vap district needs to complete the remaining site in April to ensure the progress of construction.
In Binh Thanh District, the project needs to reclaim 17.3 hectares of land, affecting 2,077 cases, including 1,230 households and 23 organizations that were completely cleared.
At the end of 2024, the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District approved the compensation, support and resettlement plan for the Xuyen Tam canal renovation project.
Currently, Binh Thanh District has also developed a detailed plan for compensation, support, and resettlement for 1,660 cases.
The remaining 417 cases will be handled after the conclusion of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, including 382 cases related to the purchase and sale of handwritten documents and land division after July 1, 2014 and 35 cases within the scope of the two projects of Xuyen Tam canal and Binh Hoa Residential Area in Ward 13.
The Urban Infrastructure Board recommends that Binh Thanh District coordinate with relevant units to promptly complete procedures, ensuring the handover of the construction site for the XL-03 package in Ward 13, and at the same time complete the handover of the XL-01 and XL-02 packages before April 30, 2025.
Xuyen Tam Canal is nearly 9km long, flowing through Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts, considered the most polluted canal in Ho Chi Minh City.
The main canal is 6.7km long from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Vam Thuat river and three branches are more than 2.2km long (Son, Binh Trieu, Binh Loi bridge branch).
The Xuyen Tam canal renovation project includes dredging the canal bed to a depth of 3.5m and widening the canal bed from 20 - 30m. The wastewater and rainwater collection system will be built synchronously, helping to improve environmental quality and prevent pollution.
On both sides of the canal, a 6m wide road will be built with two lanes on each side, along with 3 - 4m wide sidewalks and a system of parks and trees.
The entire project is expected to be completed in 2028, not only helping to reduce pollution and prevent flooding but also contributing to the socio-economic development of the area.
