BXBX NOVEL Chapter 324
“The current division of the functional areas is too fragmented. For example, the third street, the hospital, the shopping mall, and the entertainment street are all squeezed into the same street. It may seem like it’s not harmonious on the surface, but the traffic will increase when the pack is developed and the population increases. Moreover, this is the hub that connects the other three main roads. A traffic jam will paralyze the entire city!”
“But you can’t just tear it down like that! How many people rely on this street to work and support their families? Where are they going to find another job if we tear this place down?”
“We don’t have to close the shops to demolish the buildings. We can move the existing businesses to the new district.”
“What about the commuting problem? The new district is the suburbs according to its previous geographical location. Do you want people to spend three or four hours every day commuting to and from work?”
“That’s not a valid question. The new district is planned for the construction of residential areas. We can prioritize those who need to work in the new district to buy houses!”
“You’re encouraging property speculation! The new district’s house prices will go up, which goes against our original intentions!”
“Then what do you think we should do? We can’t tear it down or move them out, so will we leave this place alone? According to what you said, all areas will have problems that need to be made. If we consider everything and don’t solve anything, what’s the point of the transformation?”
The planning committee was already arguing like a pot of porridge. The members had opinions, and no one was willing to give in to the other. They almost started fighting. Seeing this, I couldn’t continue listening and gratefully said, “Watch your manners, ladies and gentlemen. This is the government office, not an underground boxing ring!”
The committee members shut their mouths and glared at their opposition. Their faces were as cold as ice, and no one was willing to step back.
I knew the planning work wouldn’t go so smoothly, but it was still beyond my expectations to have such a huge argument on the first day.
I rubbed my throbbing temples and tried to calm myself down. “All the members are right. Planning the functional areas is very important, and it’s also important to be close to people’s livelihood. However, please always remember one principle – what we want is transformation. Do you understand what transformation means? It’s not to destroy everything, and it’s not to do anything. Reconstruction is necessary. The problem with the Old City District is that it’s unreasonable. Keeping it as it is won’t change anything.”
These words revealed my bias, and those who wanted to keep it the same could only keep quiet no matter how much they disagreed.
“The replanning of the functional areas is necessary, but the amount of money needed to demolish and rebuild everything is astronomical. We need more loans, and investments won’t favor this kind of loss-making business that can’t earn back the money at a glance, so we must use all the resources we have.
“My opinion is to start a building inspection campaign immediately. Divide the buildings in the Old City District into different levels according to factors such as the degree of freshness, safety factor, and service life. Plan and transform the buildings that can be used on the original site as much as possible. Demolish and rebuild the old buildings that are really dangerous.
“In addition, we must first plan the traffic during the investigation. Those that need to be widened, those that need to be rebuilt, and those that need to be diverted must be widened. After the transformation of the Old City District, there will be a steady stream of construction materials and raw materials pouring in, which will be a huge test for the roads. According to the current transportation system, there will be problems.
“There’s also the problem of manpower. The construction team is a huge human expense. In addition to professional personnel, we can recruit ordinary workers from the public. This is written in detail in the draft, so I won’t go into detail. That’s all I have to say. Is there anything anyone would like to advise me on?”
The committee members asked detailed questions about my opinion and then unanimously agreed to start the discussion in this direction.
After all was said and done, the problem was money. Whether building buildings, paving roads, or hiring workers, they all required a large amount of money. With the reserves of three packs, it was simply a drop in the bucket. Although my father promised to let the central bank approve the interest-free loan, we still have to submit the proposal before it can be approved. This was a necessary procedure and couldn’t be omitted.
In addition, it was impossible for the central bank to borrow money endlessly. The rest of the capital gaps still had to rely on investment. The importance of networking could be seen from this. The royal family had a natural appeal in this regard. Once the news of the new pack’s bidding was released, it attracted many businessmen who came with money.
As for the various privileges that could be used to exchange for funds, I would turn a blind eye to them if I didn’t go too far. The unspoken rules of this industry couldn’t be banned at all. Rather than fighting with wits and courage over the minor details, it would be better to control all underground transactions as insurance directly.
In short, after many efforts, the modification work of the combined packs finally began in full swing!
A month had passed by now. While I suffered from hair loss due to the modifications, the wanderers’ hunt for me also received results.
Under the military’s pursuit, several groups of wanderers were captured without putting up a fight. A total of thirty-three orphans were rescued from their hands. Unfortunately, four orphans had passed away from the abuse of the wanderers, leaving behind no bodies.