A promise to the future

(Baonghean) - Some say that in a city, architecture is the form, and people are the soul. With breakthroughs in infrastructure, urban architecture, and even in the awareness and lifestyle of its residents, we can truly feel that Vinh City is becoming more beautiful every day, both in form and soul, if we consider this insightful observation.

Infrastructure breakthrough

Over the past five years, implementing the master plan, Vinh City has made comprehensive breakthroughs in infrastructure from the inner city to the surrounding communes, creating the image of a dynamic and developing Vinh city. The city has put into use many projects of great significance to the people, such as: the wastewater drainage project phase II, the operation of the Hung Hoa wastewater treatment plant, the solid waste treatment complex in Nghi Yen (Nghi Loc); completing and putting into use the drainage and environmental sanitation projects under the Vinh urban development sub-project such as: the North Canal sections I and II. In addition, the city has coordinated with provincial departments to facilitate the implementation of investment in important transportation infrastructure projects in the area such as: the passenger terminal and auxiliary facilities of Vinh Airport; Ben Thuy II bridge; upgrading National Highway 1A bypass around Vinh; National Highway 1A section from Quan Hanh to Quan Banh; Upgrading key traffic junctions with the construction of three overpasses over the North-South railway line.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, Head of Quang Tien Block, Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City (center), discusses the results of road construction in the neighborhood.

In particular, alongside major projects and the implementation of the "Investment in Technical Infrastructure and Urban Renovation Plan for Vinh City until 2020," Vinh City has effectively utilized state and public funds to build technical infrastructure in residential areas such as transportation, drainage systems, street lighting, sidewalks, and green spaces. Quang Tien Hamlet, Hung Binh Ward, is considered a unit that has effectively implemented social mobilization for investment in transportation infrastructure. Over the years, with the support of the State, the people in the hamlet have contributed over 121 million VND to upgrade alleyways, drainage systems, and install concrete slabs over drainage ditches with a total length of 168 meters. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, Head of Quang Tien Block, said: “Currently, about 40% of the length of the roads in the block has been renovated and upgraded. In the near future, our block plans to renovate and upgrade some alleyways following the principle of the State and the people working together.”

The rural landscape in the city's nine communes has also undergone significant changes thanks to the implementation of the National Target Program for New Rural Development, especially in terms of infrastructure. Hung Loc is a suburban commune with a large area and population. The urbanization process has brought many advantages but also many challenges, including essential infrastructure requirements. However, with the motto "the people know, the people discuss, the people do, and the people benefit," Hung Loc commune has effectively promoted social mobilization in rural road construction, contributing to the commune achieving the new rural development goals at the beginning of this year. Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, said: The commune has invested in upgrading more than 5.5 km of commune and hamlet main roads; 11.3 km of alleyways and field roads. The total cost of implementation amounted to more than 25 billion VND. "In this process, the people contributed money and donated land with a total value of over 5.6 billion VND." The approach in Hung Loc is also the solution implemented by other communes to increase investment, improve local infrastructure, and contribute to the city achieving the status of a new rural district in 2016, aiming for all communes to meet the new rural standards by 2018.

During the past term, following the principle of "the State and the people working together," Vinh City mobilized resources to build more than 180 km of roads, more than 94 km of drainage ditches, 74 cultural centers and health stations... with a total mobilized amount of 203 billion VND; of which, the people contributed nearly 154 billion VND.

Building a civilized urban lifestyle.

Building a civilized urban lifestyle was a priority for the city during the 2010-2015 term. From the beginning of the term, the Vinh City Party Committee issued Directive 05-CT/ThU on “Strengthening the leadership of Party committees at all levels in urban order management,” demonstrating the city's strong political determination in this area. Implementing the content of Directive 05 and the City People's Committee's implementation plan, localities organized thorough dissemination down to the neighborhood level and developed specific implementation programs. In Hung Binh ward, the People's Committee directly instructed the ward police, the Urban Order Regulations Team, and the neighborhood security force to coordinate with residential blocks to sign commitments to comply with environmental sanitation, maintain urban landscape, and ensure traffic safety.

In particular, businesses committed to not encroaching on sidewalks and roads, and to dismantling stalls and canopies that violated traffic safety corridors. After the campaign, the ward coordinated with city forces to continue inspecting and handling violations and regularly reminding people to comply with regulations. Therefore, after nearly 4 years of implementation, urban life in the area has become more orderly and has yielded many results. In the first 6 months of 2015, through 11 inspection rounds, only 1 violation in the field of construction order management was detected. Traffic safety was basically ensured; functional forces confiscated 23 types of infringing items and forced 4 cases of illegal dumping of construction waste and household waste to rectify the consequences. This confirms that the awareness of the people has improved significantly compared to before Directive 05 was issued.

It is evident that, following Directive 05, the city's urban landscape has become more attractive, clean, and beautiful; traffic safety and order have been ensured; urban order has been gradually improved; sidewalk encroachment has been addressed and its scale gradually reduced, receiving strong support and approval from the majority of the people. Discussing the changes in Vinh City over the past years, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang, Head of the Urban Management Department of Vinh City, assessed: “With the efforts of the entire political system and the people, the infrastructure of Vinh City has been increasingly upgraded, creating a new look and transformation for the city, contributing to the gradual development of a civilized, modern, and environmentally sustainable urban area.”

According to the "Adjusted Master Plan for Vinh City, Nghe An Province to 2030, Vision 2050," Vinh City will be expanded in terms of urban space and population size, and especially will become the regional center of the North Central region in many fields. The progress made during the 2010-2015 term serves as a foundation and driving force for the Party Committee and people of Vinh City to realize their promises for the future, which have been defined by concrete actions.

Nhat Le