Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) just submitted mid-term research result of pre-feasible project of building and developing Suoi Tien rail-styled station’s surrounding area and project of bus rapid transit (BRT) from Suoi Tien Bus Station to Binh Duong New City to the provincial People’s Committee.
Pham Ngoc Thach road will be the main axis linking Thu Dau Mot city with Binh Duong New City through BRT system.
According to JICA, thanks to re-arrangement and planning, along to segregated bus lanes or ‘busways’ will be developed into civilized and modern urban areas. Expectedly, this project will put into operation by 2018 to welcome Binh Duong into the central run city prior to 2020.
Community traffic centered
At the working session with the provincial leaders, Mr.Tamachi, head of JICA’s survey delegation said that Suoi Tien rail-styled station is the last terminal in the northeastern region of metro route No.1 (MRT1) and the last terminal of the BRT. Accordingly, the Eastern Bus Station will become a huge passenger transport center. Herein will be an important traffic area, gateway of one city and 2 provinces, so it is essential to create a great change of traffic network.
Besides, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) plus proper arrangement of urban functions along to express buses will form up high density urban axis, creating a change of traffic form and minimizing traffic congestion, owing to local residents’ rising usage of public traffic system. The model of TOD has been successfully applied in Brazil’s Curitiba city in 1972. At that time, this city was very deserted but till 2012 it became the world most modern and civilized urban area.
Creating added value
By re-arranging urban functions properly, the extended Eastern Terminal with the total area of 16ha will open a big opportunity for development of real estate. This not only helps develop population rapidly along to segregated bus lanes or ‘busways’ and create many jobs but bring great collection of tax, thanks to efficiency of shift from industry to urban service.
However, to do this by 2020, Binh Duong now needs to work with HCMC administration to agree on planning adjustment of some areas. In addition, it is essential to build foot-bridges linking Suoi Tien rail-styled station with the new Eastern Bus Station.
This will both create advantage for teachers and students of the universities as well as passengers and contribute to raise value of land usage in Binh Duong’s areas. Next is to build priority lanes for BRT and lighting system at areas.
It is expected that the total investment capital of this project is at VND3,500bil from ODA of the Japanese government.
At the session, leaders of departments, agencies highly evaluated research and survey results of consultant units. Le Phu Cuong, vice director of the provincial Construction Department said that the department would cooperate with the Institute of Planning and Development and localities across the province to soon submit the adjusted measures to the provincial People’s Committee.
Meanwhile, Huynh Van Minh, head of the Institute of Planning and Development stressed “I’m very impressed on the project’s research results, promoting maximum modern application of tech-science”.
Moreover, there remain some concerns such as shortcomings of land fund in some localities, compensation and site clearance and among others.
As designed, the first BRT in Binh Duong will be put into operation by early 2018. The bus route will be started from the new Eastern Bus Station, the HCMC national university, My Phuoc – Tan Van express way, Pham Ngoc Thach road to Binh Duong New City.
Concluding the working session, Tran Van Nam, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee asked consultant units to make clear delegates’ ideas to closely cooperate with relevant units. This is a big project not only relating to Binh Duong and HCMC but impacting on the whole of the Southern region. Therefore, the provincial People’s Committee suggested consultancies to assess efficiency of urban areas and segregated bus lanes or ‘busways’ to launch ODA capital.
Reported by D.CHI – Translated by A.C
