A number of ODA-funded projects in Hanoi have been delayed due to difficulties in site clearance and changes in related policies, said Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung in a working session with a supervisory delegation of the National Assembly's Standing Committee. "Some urban infrastructure projects, including large-scale metro lines have been constructed in Hanoi for the first time, which may easily confront with challenges", Chung said.
During 2011-2016, Hanoi carried out 14 programs, projects using ODA loans totaling VND69 trillion (US$3.04 billion).
Of the figure, the disbursed ODA stood at VND11.5 trillion (US$526 million), doubling that figure in the 2006-2010 period, according to Nguyen Doan Toan, vice chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.
A section of the Cat Linh - Ha Dong railway route in Hanoi, which has missed the deadlines several times
|
Besides, the ODA sources contributed remarkably to effective traffic infrastructure projects including the Nhat Tan Bridge or Bus rapid transit (BRT). Some of Hanoi's strategic metro lines are being built with ODA capital, said Toan.
Also at the meeting, Chairman Chung said Hanoi has made efforts in mobilizing social investment to carry out key projects. Yet the city still needs state funding for big projects like cleanup of polluted rivers or construction of urban railways, etc.
Chung also proposed using the money collected from the sales of state-owned firms in Hanoi to fund the metro line projects.
The supervisory delegation required the city to clarify the reasons behind the cost overruns and lateness of the ODA projects as well as take more measures to ensure their schedule and quality.
Japan remains the leading ODA provider to Hanoi with 32 projects worth US$3 billion, equivalent for 58.8% of total ODA commitment, said Chung in a Hanoi-Japan investment conference this March.
