Proposal to reduce nearly half of Ben Thanh market renovation costs

Ho Chi Minh City: The proposed budget for renovating Ben Thanh market is reduced from VND255 billion to nearly VND140 billion, implemented in 2 phases to match the contribution capacity of traders.

The proposal is contained in a report recently sent to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee by District 1 regarding the plan to renovate Ben Thanh Market - one of the iconic architectural works of the city of 10 million people, attracting many residents and tourists every day.

Previously, Ben Thanh Market was expected to undergo a total renovation with a budget of about 255 billion VND. Because the project is a first-class market, it is not allocated a budget for renovation and repair, so the source of implementation is from socialization. However, working with related units, District 1 People's Committee assessed that the socialization plan from now until 2025 with the above budget is not feasible.

Ben Thanh Market, October 2023. Photo: Quynh Tran

Based on the merchants’ contribution capacity and the Ben Thanh Market’s career development fund, the district proposed to renovate the market in two phases with a total cost of nearly VND140 billion, a 45% reduction compared to the original plan and with additional budget capital. With this plan, some items of the market will not be renovated.

Specifically, phase one (completed before April 30, 2025) will repair and replace a number of items in the market such as: drainage system, electricity, fire prevention and fighting, foundation... with a budget of nearly 45 billion VND. Of which, 15 billion VND comes from the unit's career development fund and nearly 30 billion VND from the revenue of traders at the market through collecting service fees for using the sales area for 7 years.

Inside the degraded Ben Thanh Market, October 2023. Photo: Quynh Tran

Phase 2, District 1 proposed to implement after Ben Thanh Market is ranked as a historical - cultural relic. At this time, the budget will be allocated according to the regulations on preservation, renovation and restoration of relics. The renovation items include: roof, roof support structure, market gate, reliefs, clock tower, walls, columns... The estimated cost is about 95 billion VND.

Ben Thanh Market was built from 1912 to the end of March 1914. The project has a total area of over 13,000 m2, limited by 4 roads: Phan Boi Chau - Phan Chu Trinh - Le Thanh Ton - Quach Thi Trang Square. The main business lines here include: clothing, fabrics, shoes, fashion , handicrafts... The market was renovated and repaired in mid-1985.

Le Tuyet

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/kien-nghi-giam-gan-mot-nua-kinh-phi-cai-tao-cho-ben-thanh-4674122.html