Vientiane will be developed as a commercial hub and a liveable city in South East Asia under a master plan that will oversee the capital's development until the year 2030.
The government approved the master plan in Vientiane last week following several years of debate to ensure it would lead to sustainable development over the next 20 years.
The main aim of the master plan is to preserve the old town while building new developments in the suburbs, where the necessary infrastructure will also be provided to address environmental issues.
Vice Mayor of Vientiane Keophilavanh Aphaylath told Vientiane Times Monday that all sectors of society would be encouraged to develop the capital both in terms of economics and environmental sustainability.
Under the plan, important canals and marshes will be preserved to create an effective drainage system and prevent flooding. The development plan also provides for garbage management, both through public awareness and recycling.
Currently, between 320 and 350 tonnes of rubbish are produced in the capital every day but the authorities can only collect and dispose of 150 to 200 tons per day.
Officials agree that the number of public parks in the city center is inadequate, so the authorities plan to increase the area to 375 hectares by 2030. This area is 10 times the size of existing parks.
Environmental issues are highlighted in the master plan in response to population growth and the inflow of foreign investment.
Vientiane now has a population of over 700,000 people, but a study undertaken in preparing the master plan estimates this figure will double by 2030.
The master plan envisages the development of Vientiane over an area of 3,920 square kilometer, comprising 500 villages in nine districts.
At present, all of the facilities used by local residents are located in the city center, meaning the downtown area is heavily congested. The existing roads cannot be expanded as buildings front directly onto roadsides.
The government is in agreement with the master plan as a means to expand the capital through the development of sub-centers that contain all the necessary facilities. This would also attract businesses and discourage further commercial development in the city center.
Government offices will be relocated to reduce congestion and a public transport system will be developed to link different parts of the city, according to the master plan.
The plan also recommends that two ring roads be built by 2020. The next development would be a road to link the inner and outer ring roads, and two radial roads, which should be in place by 2030.
