According to the zoning plan approved by thecentral Government in February 1994, Rach Chiec Sport Complex wouldcover 466 ha and have a 50,000-seat stadium, swimming pools, parks andother facilities to hold international sport competitions.
However,the area remains empty. After 21 years since its approval, the 466 haunder the initial master plan has been reduced to 180.7 ha.
Theonly construction work at the site is the 1km long-80m wide road axisrunning from Hanoi Highway to the sports complex. Construction of theroad axis is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of thisyear.
Construction of the road costs about 260 billion VND (nearly 12 million USD).
TheHCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is scheduled tochoose the 1/2000 functional design of Rach Chiec Sports Complex Projectfrom August to December of this year.
The selected design willbe submitted to HCM City People's Committee for approval in September2016 before construction work can start.
District 2 People'sCommittee is responsible for compensation and site clearance while theHCM City Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism was appointed toseek investment for the project.
Nguyen Hung, Deputy Director ofthe Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the city was seeking funding forsite clearance and building sport facilities at the complex.
"In2007, when land prices remained low, compensation for site clearancecost over 450 billion VND (20.6 million USD). Now, we need about 5trillion VND (230 million USD) for site clearance as valued by theCity's Finance Department," he said.
Since mid-2012, HCM Cityauthorities have considered selling land lots in the city centre tofacilitate construction of Rach Chiec Sports Complex.
Hoa LuStadium, which is located at a prime site at the corner of Nguyen ThiMinh Khai and Dinh Tien Hoang streets in District 1, is among nine landlots the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism hassuggested for sale to arrange capital for the sports complex.
However, the selling process was expected to last for several years, Hung added.-VNA