Huge port projects in HCM City are being deserted because of a lack of roads to link them to the transportation system.
Saigon - Hiep Phuoc Port being constructed
The VND2.73 trillion port project, Saigon-Hiep Phuoc, was slated for completion by 2014, with an expected capacity of over 8 million tonnes of cargo per year. But a habour bridge and port routes to connect it with main highways and roads have failed to materialise.
Nguyen Hoang Dung, Director General of Saigon-Hiep Phuoc Port Company said they asked permission for temporary use of completed piers and floating docks until more permanent infrastructure is available.
He said the port could only reach full capacity when the D3 route, which would link the port to Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, is complete.
However, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park Company has halted their plans for the D3 route, along with other projects related to the port due to capital shortage. The company asked the Ministry of Transport and Finance to make advance payment to speed up the construction.
Phu Huu Port in District 9 hosted by Ben Nghe Port Company faces a similar situation. Even though the construction began in 2007 and had an expected capacity of 4 million tonnes of cargo per year, it has yet to become operational because there no road to the port has been built.
The area needed to connect Nguyen Duy Trinh Street to Phu Huu industrial park remains stalled because of problems with site clearance. But the head of Ben Nghe Port Company said that even if the port road were put into use, there would still be transportation problems because Nguyen Duy Trinh Street is so small.
Pham Van Dong, Head of HCM City Economic-Budget Committee, said after a field survey conducted on March 19, that they would ask HCM City People's Committee for more synchronised approach to dealing with the infrastructure problem.
