Close-up of the nearly 500 billion VND belt road project in Quang Nam that started construction and then 'froze'

In May 2022, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province approved the investment in the Northern Ring Road project of Quang Nam province, with a total route length of 5.62 km, land use area of ​​about 13.45 hectares in Dien Ban town. The project's goal is to complete the traffic system connecting the Eastern and Western regions of the Northern region of Quang Nam province and Da Nang city; creating momentum for local socio-economic development.

The project is invested by Dien Ban Town People's Committee with a total capital of nearly 500 billion VND (of which the Central Budget is 398 billion VND, the Provincial Budget is 100 billion VND). The construction unit is a joint venture of Dai Thien Truong Joint Stock Company and 873 Joint Stock Company - Construction of traffic works.

In September 2023, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province decided to adjust the project to adjust the route to go straight across the Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway, connecting to Quang Da bridge; in August 2024, the project officially started construction. The project implementation period is within 770 days, expected to be completed in October 2025.

However, more than 7 months since the groundbreaking date, the Northern Belt Road of Quang Nam province is still in a "standstill" state.

According to VTC News reporters, in mid-April 2025, at the construction site of the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway (section belonging to Dien Tien commune), there were only an operator's house, a camp and a few pieces of machinery gathered. Some workers were present mainly to check the machinery, there was no sign that the project was being implemented.

"Last year, the project held a grand groundbreaking ceremony, but a few days later, the area fell into silence. After Tet, I saw them bring in machinery and workers, but only to level a few areas," said a resident of Thai Cam village, Dien Tien commune.

At the construction site of the highway overpass, materials are piled up, while a few workers are also working at a slow pace.

Faced with the project's slow progress due to land acquisition issues, in early 2025, Dien Ban Town People's Committee held a meeting with relevant parties to speed up site clearance. The town's leaders requested Dien Tien Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the Town Land Fund Development Center to develop a plan to complete site clearance at key sections; mobilize households to comply with the land acquisition policy to implement the project to ensure progress according to plan.

Regarding the progress of site clearance of the nearly 500 billion VND project, according to the representative of the Dien Ban Town Land Fund Development Center, in Dien Hoa Commune, the first phase has paid more than 2.8 billion VND to 25 households. For the remaining area, the center has met with households on the draft compensation plan and the majority have agreed. In the near future, the center will continue to pay more than 3.6 billion VND to the remaining 44 households. In Dien Tien Commune, 223/240 households received compensation with an amount of nearly 20 billion VND.

Two months ago, Quang Nam Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet had a meeting with Dien Ban town about delayed projects, including the Northern Ring Road of Quang Nam province. Here, the leader of the Department of Finance said that the project's progress from 2022 to now has been very slow, leading to the medium-term public investment capital plan being fully concentrated in 2025. The source from the Central Budget that must be disbursed for this project this year is about 317 billion VND, if it cannot be disbursed, this source of capital will be lost.

The Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee requested relevant agencies to urgently develop a specific disbursement schedule in 2025, otherwise the Central Government will "cut off capital".

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/can-canh-du-an-duong-vanh-dai-gan-500-ty-o-quang-nam-khoi-cong-xong-dung-hinh-ar937396.html