Ho Chi Minh City targets 64,000 hectares of land for TOD

Ho Chi Minh City targets 64,000 hectares of land for TOD

Ho Chi Minh City will reserve more than 64,000 hectares of land for public transit-oriented development (TOD).

Ho Chi Minh City will reserve more than 64,000 hectares of land for the implementation of public transit-oriented development (TOD).

TOD will create conditions to improve land use efficiency, reduce traffic congestion, improve the living environment, and optimise the public transportation system. Photo: Le Toan

According to Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Ho Chi Minh City was a large economic centre and the most populous urban area in the country, therefore its traffic and urban planning must be in developed in rapid, harmonious, cohesive and synchronous status.

“In particular, urban development is oriented with public transportation as the centre, aiming to promote green and sustainable growth for Ho Chi Minh City as well as the entire region,” Cuong said at a seminar on applying public TOD held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 26 by the British Consulate General.

According to the plan, Ho Chi Minh City must complete 355km of urban railway by 2035.

At the same time, the city has decided to plan 11 TOD locations along its urban railway and Ring Road 3 from the 2024-2028 period.

"The development of TOD will create conditions to improve land use efficiency, reduce traffic congestion, improve the living environment and optimise the public transportation system," Cuong added.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of Technical Infrastructure Management Department under Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, said that the city was urgently undertaking the development of the urban railway network according to a resolution, passed by the National Assembly on February 19, piloting a number of specific policy mechanisms for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

“However, the problem is how to implement effectively, with an appropriate development roadmap, plans for mobilising and organising resources, as well as mechanisms to encourage other sectors to join. In addition, identifying priority enforcement areas is also an important problem for city authorities,” Tuan said.

According to Tuan, Ho Chi Minh City has arranged the city's space to create room for development and new growth drivers, including the central urban area and the Thu Duc city, at the same time, accelerate the implementation of the TOD model associated with urban beautification.

Currently, the potential available land for development under the TOD model in the city is 32,000ha of agricultural or vacant land that has no or little impact on the current population, and about 9,000ha of industrial land, production land, and land that can be converted into TOD implementation areas.

In addition, the city also identified about 23,000ha of existing, renovated, embellished residential areas or current functional areas that can be encouraged to be redeveloped in association with TOD.

According to British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alexandra Smith, she was delighted to once again witness the close partnership between the UK and Ho Chi Minh City.

“The UK’s support in the transport sector and the building of the TOD platform will contribute to the city building a modern and sustainable urban rail system. The UK has been leading in technology and innovation in urban development, including TOD, which helps cities optimise their public transport networks and reduce congestion. I believe that the development and implementation of TOD will play a critical role in improving the quality of Ho Chi Minh City’s public transport infrastructure and reducing the City’s carbon footprint,” said Smith.

TOD is an urban development method combined with public transit, encouraging high-density urban development through the use of land around transport hubs to promote public transport, and reduce dependence on personal vehicles to support sustainable urban growth.

For Ho Chi Minh City, TOD would be an important strategy to manage rapid urbanisation, reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, optimise land use, mobilise revenue to improve access to public transport, improve the quality of urban life and contribute to economic growth.

Through GCIP, UK experts will work with Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Management Authority for Urban Railways to apply TOD principles to the city’s urban planning, build financial mechanisms through land value capture, as well as proposed solutions to start TOD as soon as possible.

VIR