The World Bank has approved USD 80 million in loan to enhance the quality of key urban infrastructure in Thai Nguyen city, the capital of northern Thai Nguyen province.

Thai Nguyen city's centre.

The funds will be spent to construct and upgrade urban roads and bridges, improve local drainage system, urban amenities and public spaces and build preschools. It will also support better urban planning and management, taking into account climate change and disaster risks.

The project is expected to directly benefit more than 81,000 residents of the city from improved urban infrastructure that will reduce the risk of flooding and expand access to improved sanitation, reduce vehicle travel times on new and improved roads and increase access to child care services and public spaces.

It will also improve connectivity to industrial parks, commercial establishments and tourist attractions, which will benefit workers and merchants commuting to and from the project city as well as tourists visiting Thai Nguyen city.

Furthermore, support will be provided to the government of Thai Nguyen to strengthen its capacity for integrated urban planning, public transport planning and sustainable asset management.

The project is estimated to cost about USD 100 million, including USD 80 million financed by the WB’s International Development Association (IDA) and USD 20 million from the provincial government.

Thai Nguyen city is the capital of Thai Nguyen province and the regional hub of the northern mountainous region. The city is located in the Hanoi Capital Region, with newly constructed highway connections facilitating access to the capital, just 80 km away.

It has a total natural area of approximately 223 sq.km and a population of more than 362,900 people./.

VNF/VNA