Ho Chi Minh City orders solutions to long-stalled sports center renovation project

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has asked local departments and agencies to comprehensively review a project to renovate Phan Dinh Phung Sports Center at a prime location in District 3, which has been abandoned for 13 years, and propose solutions to the city prior to August 30. The city asked the Department of Planning and Investment to join hands with the Department of Justice to review the investment procedures of the project and related regulations to ensure compliance with the law. The municipal administration earlier established a working team led by deputy director of the Department of Planning and Investment Pham Trung Kien to remove bottlenecks of the Phan Dinh Phung Sports Center renovation project. The team also includes director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Toan Thang, deputy director of the Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Nam Nhan, deputy director of the Department of Finance Nguyen Ngoc Thao, deputy director of the Department of Justice Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, and deputy director of the Department of Construction Le Tran Kien. Work on the project, carrying an initial price tag of VND988 billion (US$41.6 million), was scheduled to start in March 2010.