The Ministry of Construction and the World Bank have started a 600 million USD project on upgrading six urban areas in the Mekong delta region, according to the office of the Can Tho City People’s Committee.

The WB provides up to 65 percent of the project’s investment or 390 million USD in official development assistance while the remaining 35 percent will come from the government.

The project will upgrade the infrastructure in the six Mekong delta cities of Can Tho, My Tho, Ca Mau, Tra Vinh, Cao Lanh and Rach Gia, including their water supply and sewage systems, street lights and sanitary projects.

Part of the project’s investment will be used to build resettlement areas for canal bank dwellers or people who live in slums or dangerous areas.

Within the project, more than 12,000 households will have access to loans that range between 20 and 30 million VND per household to upgrade their houses. Activities will be held to improve the housing and land management as well as urban planning capacity for the local authorities.

The project is part of the National Urban Upgrading Strategy until 2020 which aims to improve the living conditions of the local residents.

Around 142,000 people will enjoy direct benefits from the scheme while the number of indirect beneficiaries is forecast to be 1.39 million.

The project will earmark 112.7 million USD for the building of a water supply system in the centre of Can Tho city and installation of supporting equipment to improve the city’s management of water drainage system.

The Ministry of Construction has started a programme on upgrading urban areas since 2007. So far, 2.2 million people in Ho Chi Minh City , Nam Dinh, Hai Phong and Can Tho has enjoyed benefits from the programme./.