Ho Chi Minh City: Eliminate business locations and warehouses under bridges before October 30

Faced with the current risk of fire and explosion, especially after the serious fire at the parking lot under Vinh Tuy Bridge (Hanoi), the Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a document requesting local authorities to complete the removal of all business locations and parking lots under the bridge before October 30, 2025 to ensure absolute safety for traffic works.

According to the reporter of Tin Tuc and Dan Toc Newspaper, the inspection and handling work is being carried out vigorously by localities in Ho Chi Minh City. In the area under Lo Gom Bridge (Binh Tien Ward), the ward's interdisciplinary inspection team discovered a warehouse of materials managed by Ho Chi Minh City Ferry Bridge Construction Joint Stock Company.

Inside the warehouse were many construction materials, mechanical vehicles and alarmingly, many barrels suspected of containing fuel were present, posing serious risks to fire safety.

Ho Chi Minh City is determined to eliminate businesses and warehouses under bridges before October 30.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Vo Ngoc An, Head of the Urban Economic Department of Binh Tien Ward, said that the ward has proactively checked all bridges in the area, including Pham Van Chi Bridge and Lo Gom Bridge. In fact, the area under Lo Gom Bridge is being used by the City Bridge and Ferry Company as a place to gather materials for urgent maintenance and repair work on two main roads, Vo Van Kiet and Mai Chi Tho.

“We have worked with the management unit, requiring absolute fire safety assurance, not affecting the bridge structure; at the same time, the ward will report the current situation to the City to have a plan to arrange the use of this space in a more sustainable and safe way,” said Mr. An.

Many construction materials are gathered under Lo Gom bridge, posing a high risk of fire and explosion.

On the management side, Ms. Pham Thi Thu Ha, Warehouse Manager of Ho Chi Minh City Bridge and Ferry Construction Joint Stock Company explained: "The materials here are to ensure the quick maintenance and repair of the Vo Van Kiet bridge and boulevard. Regarding fuel, we are coordinating with petroleum companies so that vehicles and equipment can be directly distributed outside. A small amount was brought back by workers but all were required to be taken away immediately, not stored in the warehouse."

Current status under Phu My bridge (Tan Thuan ward).

A similar situation also occurred under Phu My bridge (Tan Thuan ward), when authorities discovered a spontaneous parking lot and warehouse. Notably, local authorities have yet to identify the individual or organization running this operation.

“After checking, we discovered that some people arbitrarily parked their vehicles under Phu My bridge, not in an organized parking lot. The ward has propagated and mobilized people to move their vehicles before September 30. After this deadline, we will organize forces to resolutely handle the situation to return the open space under the bridge,” informed Mr. Bui Huu Trung, Deputy Head of the Urban Economic Department of Tan Thuan ward.

Authorities inspected and discovered a warehouse of supplies under Phu My bridge, Tan Thuan ward.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the situation of illegal encroachment and use of space under bridges is still complicated, causing traffic insecurity and potential fire and explosion risks despite being corrected many times.

Colonel Tran Van Hieu, Head of the Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting and Rescue Police Department (Ho Chi Minh City Police) said: "The City Police have directed a general review of all public works with vehicles parked in a way that causes fire safety problems. We have advised to conduct a comprehensive inspection and request immediate remedial measures to prevent unfortunate fire and explosion incidents from happening."

The problem of static traffic infrastructure is a big challenge for Ho Chi Minh City. By the end of 2024, the whole city has more than 1,100 large and small bridges. According to Decision No. 568/QD-TTg dated April 8, 2013 of the Government , the City has planned nearly 551 hectares of land for car and taxi parking lots.

Many barrels are believed to contain fuel and materials, posing a potential fire safety risk under Lo Gom bridge.

Many areas under bridges have become commercial areas, parking lots and warehouses.

However, after more than a decade, the implemented area has only reached 2.69 hectares, equivalent to 0.5% of the plan. The main reason is said to be due to difficulties in site clearance and limited land fund in the central area.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is in the process of re-establishing specialized technical infrastructure planning projects to better suit the new development situation. Relocating parking lots and warehouses under bridges before October 30, 2025 is considered an urgent task, not only to restore urban order but also a crucial solution to protect the safety of traffic works and the lives and property of the people.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-de-quan-tam/tp-ho-chi-minh-xoa-bo-cac-diem-kinh-doanh-kho-hang-duoi-gam-cau-truoc-ngay-3010-20251004094815074.htm