Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked international consultants to focus on preserving both tangible and intangible values of Hanoi’s famed Old Quarter while working on a master plan for the city toward 2030.

Dung’s remarks were made at a meeting where international consultancy group PPJ submitted its report on the master plan for the capital city through 2030 with a vision for 2050.

The second hearing on the report was also attended by deputy prime ministers Nguyen Sinh Hung and Hoang Trung Hai, leaders of relevant agencies and senior Hanoi administration officials.

The PPJ introduced the leaders to their third strategy for the city’s development, which combines the advantages of the previous two strategies, expanding the new urban center to the west of Hanoi and place the national administrative center to the west of the city center.

Dung approved the strategy and asked PPJ to continue refining the master plan for Hanoi to expand the city’s space to include a key metropolis which is surrounded by satellite townships like Hoa Lac, Son Tay, Xuan Mai, Quoc Oai, Phu Xuyen, Dong Anh, Me Linh and Soc Son.

He asked that 30 percent of the city’s space be reserved for the development of urban areas and the remaining 70 percent for its green belt.

He required the upgrade and preservation of old cultural centers along with their intangible values, particularly works located in the Old Quarter.

The PM requested the PPJ to make clear, in its upcoming report, its road, rail and waterway infrastructure development plan to manage traffic jams and ensure inter-regional linkages for the city.

He also asked the consultancy group to map out a flood drainage plan for the city and provide more details about functional areas, such as the administrative center, the urban center and the metropolitan area.

The third hearing on PPJ’s report will be held in September and October so the final report can be submitted to the National Assembly by the end of the year.

Source: VNA