The Nhat Tan-Noi Bai route will open up new development potential in the north of the capital city,
Photo: Duc Thanh

In a meeting held last week in the capital, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi said that the road was expected to become a driving force for the development of the city’s northern region.

Nghi also confirmed that there would be special policies to woo investors to participate in developing urban areas along the road. Those policies, Nghi said, should be simple, attractive and feasible to attract private investment.

The Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment was assigned by the local people’s committee to draw up the proposed incentives for submission this year.

Meanwhile, chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao said that the future investors who wanted to participate in sub-projects to develop those areas would have to remain engaged throughout the project’s life. This precondition was aimed at preventing investors who wanted to register in a certain project, from building houses and quitting after the houses were sold.

Nghi also stressed that the future sub-projects would need to be modern, environmentally-friendly developments. He also ruled out tall apartment blocks, favouring low-rise developments with plenty of green space.

“The people’s committee authorities must be very careful in choosing future investors that are capable of developing such projects,” Nghi said.

Nghi’s comments were set against a backdrop where Dubai Global Sphere last year proposed to build a $30 billion urban development project in this area. The so-called Hanoi Wall Street was expected to consist of 70 high-rise residential towers. However the project was not submitted because the investor failed to prove its capacity.

Both Thao and Nghi stressed that future and current constructions located along the new road must be followed by a comprehensive plan which can harmonise existing and new developments

According to an already agreed Hanoi People’s Committee plan, the urban areas located along the Nhat Tan - Noi Bai axis would cover more than 2,000 hectares over 12 kilometres of Dong Anh and Soc Son districts, which already have a total population of 140,000.

The urban areas would consist of a gateway focusing on industry, trade and agriculture, a riverside urban zone, and an ecological urban area. An ASEAN ‘cultural village’ and exhibition centre and a financial tower will be also constructed.

The Nhat Tan - Noi Bai extends from the Nam Hong intersection to National Highway 12 and the North Thang Long-Noi Bai intersection. IT is expected to become operational later this year, linking Nhat Tan Bridge and the second terminal at Noi Bai Airport.