World Bank 'offers advice' on planning and renovating Vinh River

The planning and renovation plans for Vinh River by the World Bank's urban planning experts are presented through many maps, sketches, and detailed designs...

Vinh River seen from above. Photo: Thanh Cuong.

Through these documents, it can be seen that the World Bank has conducted quite thorough research on the natural context of the Vinh River, its historical and cultural values, and related urban characteristics... to propose a planning scheme; in which special attention is paid to planning open spaces, landscapes... on vacant land along the riverbank.

The area related to Vinh River is the focus of research by World Bank urban planning experts (area within the red dashed border). Photo: Nhat Lan

Thereby, the World Bank highly appreciates the position, role, and level of influence of Vinh River on Vinh City; hopes that the Project "Priority infrastructure and urban development adapting to climate change in Vinh City, Nghe An Province" will be implemented; and that Vinh River, after being renovated, will meet the highest requirements, bringing practical effects to Vinh City.

Regarding the origin of the Vinh River planning and renovation plans of experts, according to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Phong, Deputy Director in charge of the Vinh Urban Development Sub-project Management Board, it was from the field survey trip along both banks of the Vinh River and the 2nd Regulating Lake in Hung Hoa by the World Bank Working Group at the end of September 2019. Immediately after the field survey trip, the urban planning experts of the Group also presented a number of planning ideas at the working session with the Departments, branches and sectors of Vinh province and city.

An outline of the Vinh River research scope by urban planning experts from the World Bank. Photo: Nhat Lan

The planning ideas were then focused on by experts and completed, and sent to the Vinh Urban Sub-Project Management Board at the end of December 2019. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Phong said: “According to World Bank experts, the renovation of Vinh River, in addition to promoting drainage capacity and adapting to climate change, must pay attention to landscape planning and urban planning along both banks of Vinh River.

Surplus land funds need to be planned for investment in building parks, landscapes, and entertainment areas for the people. At the same time, the zoning planning of wards and communes along both banks of the Vinh River also needs to be considered to ensure synchronization in technical infrastructure connections, architectural space, and landscape space.

For new planning areas, technical infrastructure is also connected, but constructions near Vinh River are required to be built lower than constructions far from Vinh River to ensure space, visibility and benefits for households...".

A design drawing of the future Vinh River cross-section made by urban planning experts of the World Bank. Photo: Nhat Lan

The project “Priority infrastructure and climate change adaptation urban development in Vinh city, Nghe An province” has the following objectives: reducing flooding and adapting to climate change for the city through activities to renovate and upgrade the drainage system; improving the city's environment, improving the quality of life of people through the wastewater collection and treatment system; enhancing connectivity between developing areas and weak infrastructure, in order to create momentum for the city to develop through the construction of a number of connecting roads; enhancing the capacity of urban management to adapt to climate change and flood control for Vinh city.

Vinh River seen from Railway Bridge (Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Cuong

This project is determined to be implemented from the World Bank's preferential loan capital for a period of 5 years. The project was proposed by the Provincial People's Committee to the Ministry of Planning and Investment in March 2019. The Ministry of Planning and Investment submitted it to the Prime Minister and on October 20, 2019, the Government Office issued Official Dispatch No. 9566/VPCP-QHQT with the content showing that Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with relevant agencies to appraise and report to competent authorities for approval for implementation in the period of 2021 - 2025.