Localities should not be too rigid.

The policy of temporarily suspending new construction and office renovation projects to reorganize the apparatus is correct, however, projects that have been basically completed should not be suspended.

Correct policy

In the current context, from the central to local levels, the policy of rearranging administrative units is being urgently implemented, specifically abolishing the district level and merging provinces and communes. The issue related to the temporary suspension of construction of administrative headquarters is receiving great public attention.

The suspension of new construction or renovation projects of district/commune-level offices and conference centers is necessary to avoid excess and waste of state budget resources as well as to minimize risks in handling public assets in the future.

Overall perspective of the new administrative area of ​​Con Cuong district, Nghe An. Photo: Ba Hau

When the district level is abolished and communes are merged, many administrative offices may no longer be used for their original purpose and will have their functions changed. Therefore, the temporary suspension to review actual needs is a reasonable and correct decision.

Many localities across the country have issued documents to temporarily suspend the implementation of new construction investment projects, repairs, renovations, and upgrades of offices of district- and commune-level administrative agencies and units under their management.

This policy is also very consistent with the current policy of restructuring administrative units, aiming at streamlining the payroll and merging agencies with similar functions to operate more effectively. After the apparatus is streamlined, the number of offices needed can be reduced, avoiding unnecessary new construction and renovation.

When the administrative apparatus is reorganized, the planning of the office system will also be more comprehensive, methodical, scientific, appropriate and strategic than it is now. If it is built from the beginning without careful calculation, it may have to be adjusted or relocated later, which will be costly and wasteful.

Don't be too rigid.

It can be affirmed that the suspension of investment projects for new construction, repair, renovation, and upgrading of office buildings, administrative centers, and district-level conference centers is a correct policy. However, not all projects need to be suspended immediately. In addition to projects that have not yet started construction, are only in the stage of completing documents and procedures, which of course need to be suspended, localities need to carefully review the status of projects under construction, especially those that are nearly completed.

If an administrative headquarters project has completed about 80 - 90% of the volume, a temporary suspension risks damaging the project, incurring maintenance costs later, causing damage to businesses and affecting the disbursement of public investment capital.

Nga Son District (Thanh Hoa) is repairing and upgrading the Conference Center with a budget of about 8 billion VND. Photo: Thanh Phuong

At the same time, for projects that have started but only a small part of the volume has been constructed, it is necessary to consider suspending them for review. However, there are also some special projects that localities should consider and seek opinions to implement to avoid wasting invested funds... Basically, localities need to be flexible and not too rigid in suspending these projects.

In Thanh Hoa province, on March 12, 2025, the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee issued a document agreeing in principle that projects to build new and renovate offices, district-level conference centers, district-level and commune-level cultural and sports centers that are under construction will continue to be implemented normally. As for investment projects that have investment policies, investment decisions, and contractor selection results but have not yet started construction, they will be "defaulted" to be suspended.

Other localities such as Gia Lai, Bac Kan... also did not suspend projects that have been completed. This is considered a "bottleneck" in suspending public investment projects related to offices and conference centers.

Through the records and research in the directive documents in some localities, it can be seen that the localities all have a common viewpoint, which is to assign the Department of Finance and the Department of Construction to preside over and coordinate with relevant localities and units to conduct a thorough review, synthesize proposals, and make a specific list for the Provincial People's Committee to resolve problems, as well as consider and decide whether the projects must be suspended or continued.

The office building of the People's Council - People's Committee of Hoang Hoa district (Thanh Hoa) which has just been temporarily suspended will continue to be constructed. Photo: Tran Thang

The director of a construction company in Thanh Hoa province (who asked to remain anonymous) shared with reporters of the Industry and Trade Newspaper that Thanh Hoa province's consideration and decision not to temporarily suspend construction of projects that have been almost completed is correct, and the company is very supportive.

“Currently, my company is constructing a public investment project in the area. If we consider the aspect that all public investment projects related to offices and district-level conference centers must stop to rearrange the apparatus, our project must also stop construction. However, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee has issued a document allowing projects that have started construction to continue, removing difficulties for businesses,” he shared.

According to the director of this company, the contract they are working on is worth more than 10 billion VND, and is currently about 90% complete, with only a few final steps left to be handed over and put into use. If the project has to be suspended, some items of this project may be damaged, degraded and lose their aesthetic appeal. In addition, the company will also face financial difficulties.

Many other businesses have also invested large resources in ongoing projects, preparing the final stages to complete the project, a sudden suspension could lead to economic losses.

In addition to carefully considering which projects need to be suspended, local authorities also need to come up with appropriate support policies, such as paying for completed items for projects in the final stages.

In addition, continuing to complete nearly completed projects also contributes to increasing disbursement of public investment capital, ensuring infrastructure development progress and economic growth.

Therefore, localities need to review and evaluate carefully and should not be too rigid in deciding which projects must be temporarily suspended.

The view of temporarily suspending construction of projects related to administrative headquarters is a necessary step in the context of administrative restructuring. However, this policy needs to be applied flexibly, avoiding mechanical methods that cause damage to businesses and affect the disbursement of public investment capital. Careful review and full assessment before deciding to suspend or continue to complete the project will help minimize negative impacts and bring the best benefits to society.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/tam-dung-xay-dung-cong-so-de-sap-xep-bo-may-cac-dia-phuong-khong-nen-qua-cung-nhac-378428.html