Hanoi will speed up to achieve the goals of urban upgrading and development for urban economy in 2021-2025, according to Director of Hanoi Construction Department Vo Nguyen Phong.

"The city authorities have drastically instructed subordinate units to effectively allocate funds for undergrounding electricity and telecommunication cables, review specific assignments to units, and re-tender the remaining items of the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment System Project," Phong said. 

Thanh Nien Street along West Lake, the largest natural lake in Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

He added that some major goals have been completed so far, namely the inauguration of three commercial centers, including Vinhomes Ocean Park in Gia Lam District, Vinsmart City in Nam Tu Liem District, Lotte Mall in Tay Ho District; the opening of pedestrian spaces, including walking space around Son Tay Ancient Citadel, walking and cultural space on Tran Nhan Tong Street and surrounding areas, and Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa Night Food Street.

Phong stressed that the city will continue to push for the early opening of the pedestrian zone around Ngoc Khanh Lake in Ba Dinh District and the expansion of the walking zone around Hoan Kiem Lake. In addition, the city is trying to push for the completion of 10 other targets by 2025, including the renovation of 20 villas and 10 architectural works built before 1954, the upgrading and construction of new parks and flower gardens, and the planting of 500,000 new trees, among others.

Regarding clean water supply, Phong said the local government is urging contractors to provide water supply to the remaining communes in the city in the 2023-2025 period.

"By the end of 2023, the total amount of clean water supplied to the city reached about 1.53 million cubic meters per day, meeting the water consumption needs of all city residents. To date, 90% of 413 communes have access to clean water," said the director.

He stressed that all problems in providing clean water have been solved, ensuring that committed targets for safe water supply will be met by early 2025.

"In 2024, departments and localities in Hanoi will focus on undergrounding power lines on streets, urban renovation, speeding up the progress of urban railway projects, wastewater treatment, building markets, and renovating old apartments," Phong said.