Hanoi Ring Road 2 may see additional costs to the slated USD304 million following lobbying from residents in Cau Giay District who want to save an old banyan tree.
The old banyan tree
"This banyan tree has been a part of our lives. That's why when it was announced that a road construction will run through here, we immediately petitioned to keep the tree. Hundreds of houses have been cleared but the tree stays. A tree this old in Hanoi is a rare find," said Nguyen Thi Lien, a resident in Nghia Do Ward, Cau Giay District.
Even though it's unclear how old the tree is, a 105 year-old local man claims it was there when he was growing up.
Construction designed to avoid the banyan tree
The investor in the gigantic road project has apparently said it is aware of the significance of the tree and intends to allow it to stay within the median between the road lanes.
"The construction workers said that lots of people have asked them to keep the old tree. The tree was already included in our planning," said the head of the project management.
The 43.6 kilometre long Ring Road 2 will connect major locations in Hanoi including Minh Khai, Truong Chinh and Hanel-Vinh Tuy Industrial Zone. The construction from Nhat Tan Ward to Cau Giay District was started in 2012 and will cost an estimated USD304 million when completed this year.
