Vietnam/ Ho Chi Minh City buries its cables to rise to modernity
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic and cultural hub, is constantly reinventing itself to become a modern, civilized metropolis. At the heart of this transformation is a project of exceptional scope: the burial of electricity and telecommunications cables.
The work, which began just over twenty years ago, has already buried hundreds of kilometers of cable in the city center, improving the urban landscape and quality of life for residents.
Streets once invaded by cables
At the end of the 1990s, Ho Chi Minh City was faced with a chaotic tangle of electrical wires and telecommunications cables, particularly visible in central districts such as the1st,3rd,5th, 10th, Phu Nhuân and Binh Thanh.
Quach Van Bao, a long-time resident of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street (1st arrondissement), remembers those days: "The situation got worse with the popularization of TV and Internet cables. Wires of all kinds ran along the streets, in the alleys, from pole to pole, from house to house, from the city center to the suburbs".
Faced with this reality, the city decided to undertake the burial of these networks. Bùi Hai Thanh, deputy general manager of the Hô Chi Minh City General Electricity Company (EVNHCMC), explained that, at the time, this project was a major step forward.t the time, this project was a top priority in the urban development strategy, aimed at improving citizens' quality of life and building a modern, civilized city.
In 2014, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee officially set up a steering committee to oversee this undergrounding project, focusing on the construction of the underground medium- and low-voltage electricity network, as well as the undergrounding of telecommunications cables.
A strategic response for a civilized city
"Thanks to the accumulated experience and synchronized coordination between sectors, by the end of 2015, the city had completed the burial of almost400 km of medium-voltage power lines and 500 km of low-voltage lines, mainly in the1st and3rd districts, marking a major step forward", said Bùi Hai Thanh.
According to EVNHCMC, by the end of 2020, more than 1,000 km of medium-voltage lines, 2,000 km of low-voltage lines and 3,000 km of telecommunications cables will have been buried. The clear, harmonious urban landscapes of emblematic streets such as Nguyên Huê, Lê Loi and the new urban district of Phu My Hung are a perfect illustration of the project's success.
By the end of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City aims to have buried a total of over 1,500 km of medium-voltage lines, 2,500 km of low-voltage lines and almost 4,000 km of telecommunications cables. As a result, more than 70% of the city center's electrical network will pass underground, giving the southern metropolis a completely new look.
This emblematic project bears witness not only to a technical feat, but also to a strong commitment to innovation and development. Ho Chi Minh City is actively pursuing the undergrounding of other networks, in a coordinated and efficient manner, with the aim of becoming a modern, civilized and intelligent city.
Safety, aesthetics and innovation
"The burial of the electricity network has not only freed up urban space, but also left an excellent impression on tourists, reinforcing the image of a city that is both safe and innovative.the image of a modern city," said Tran Thi Dieu Hien, Chairwoman of the 11th Ward People's Committee in Phu Nhuân district.
"This work also helps to guarantee urban safety, by reducing the risk of short circuits and fires, especially in densely populated areas like Phu Nhuân, during the rainy and stormy seasons", she added.
Experts from the Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Association believe that this underground cable system ensures a more stable supply of electricity and telecommunications. Less vulnerable to weather and external factors, it reduces power cuts and service interruptions, better meeting the city's growing needs.
A modern underground infrastructure is also an indispensable foundation for the development of a smart city. An underground cable network with high transmission capacity and greater stability is essential for deploying advanced technologies: smart traffic, energy management, intelligent urban lighting, public safety video surveillance or even 5G network.
Ho Chi Minh City is therefore continuing to extend its underground electricity network, with the aim of burying the entire network in the city center and new urban areas by 2030. At the same time, underground infrastructures will be integrated into sustainable development projects, notably in the fields of renewable energies and intelligent management systems.
The vice-chairman of the municipal People's Committee, Vo Van Hoan, emphasized that the undergrounding of the power grid will improvethe city's appearance, its supply capacity and the quality of life of its inhabitants, thus helping to build a modern, intelligent metropolis.
Finally, he noted that these modern underground infrastructures play a key role in data collection, enhancing the efficiency of urban management. They facilitate the application of advanced technologies in the management of transport, energy and the environment, and enable municipal authorities to make more precise and responsive decisions.
Source: lecourrier.vn/
