Messy urban planning ruin cities’ grand plan, aesthetics: lawmakers

At a National Assembly session Thursday, Construction Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi received many questions regarding urban planning, especially in major cities like Hanoi.

Deputy Ly Van Huan, from the northern province of Thai Nguyen, said the construction of skyscrapers is not being well thought-out, and that construction violations would ruin urban planning and urban aesthetics.

Deputy Duong Khac Mai, from the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, said besides planning violations happening all over the country, multiple violations can also be observed at certain construction projects that forever remain in limbo, where land plots could be claimed for such projects without anything being done.

“Such scenarios cause the loss of social resources, impede the general development of the country, spark social unrest among the population, especially for those living in areas with land clearance,” Mai said.

Nghi said that during the planning readjustment in certain localities, there were cases when adjustments were done improperly, ruining the planning. Reasons include the lack of monitoring and evaluation, as well as the fact that surveys to garner opinions from the people have not been done properly.

There were also cases where the planning was adjusted locally with the hope of attracting investments, despite the fact that such an adjustment is not ideal for existing infrastructures, Nghi said, adding that the Ministry of Construction would continue to introduce policies regarding planning adjustments.

Other deputies said planning in certain localities still lack visions and feasibility, and that Vietnam’s architecture and planning was developing messily.

Nghi said the legal systems on investment for home construction and also for urban planning development have yet to be synchronized. Management tools are also not effective yet, he added.

In the future, the construction ministry would finish regulations regarding urban planning adjustments, as well as introducing new policies regarding climate change response or response against rising sea levels when it comes to urban planning, he said.