Economy in 6 months: Deploying a series of key projects in all 5 transport sectors

One of the most outstanding results of the transport sector in the first 6 months of the year is investment in developing transport infrastructure, with a series of key projects implemented in all 5 areas: road, railway, aviation, maritime and inland waterway.

To promote investment in the construction and development of transport infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport requires investors and project management boards to closely coordinate with localities to remove difficulties in site clearance, ensure material supply, and promote project progress in the last months of the year.

Illustration photo: Van Son/Tin Tuc Newspaper

Director of the Vietnam Expressway Administration Lam Van Hoang said that in recent times, coordination between localities in coordinating construction material sources has not been good. Through actual inspection of expressway projects being implemented, some local investors have a weak project management apparatus and uneven capacity.

According to Director Lam Van Hoang: "Expressway projects often pass through many provinces and cities. Decentralization to localities as the competent authorities according to their localities should require localities to proactively coordinate closely with the assigned focal point to organize the implementation of technical requirements, norms, unit prices, etc. and related procedures to ensure consistency and unity in the implementation process."

For projects in the investment preparation phase, the Vietnam Expressway Administration recommends that localities closely coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to speed up the appraisal and approval of investment projects; at the same time, proactively develop bidding documents and draft contracts so that immediately after project approval, the work of selecting contractors and investors can be implemented, meeting the required project commencement schedule.

“Regarding the rest stop system, the Vietnam Expressway Administration needs to direct, urge, and accelerate the progress of investment implementation,” Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang requested, and also clearly directed: Phase 1 has been done well, phase 2 must be done very quickly, and simultaneously. It should be noted that many sections of the North-South Expressway project, phase 2, have been completed by April 30. It must be ensured that by the time of inauguration, the project will have synchronous investment in all items, including the rest stop system.

To ensure the progress of infrastructure investment in the last 6 months of the year, Minister Nguyen Van Thang also requested relevant units to coordinate with the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province to implement the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh Expressway Project on schedule; develop a plan to shorten the progress of the North - South Expressway Project in the East phase 2021-2025, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, Ho Chi Minh Road according to the Prime Minister's direction.

In addition, the affiliated units coordinate with relevant agencies to accelerate the implementation of pilot research to expand the use of sea sand according to plan to soon have official, comprehensive results in 2024 to serve the projects implemented in the following period. This is also a matter of concern when there is information about using saline sea sand to construct highway projects.

On the side of the Ministry of Transport, it has been affirmed that the component projects of the North-South Expressway in the Eastern phase 2021-2025 in general, and the component project of the Can Tho - Ca Mau section in particular, all use river sand.

In order for the construction of sea sand to be smooth and not affect the environment and daily life of people in the area, the Ministry of Transport has also sent a document requesting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Construction to pay attention and provide timely guidance (when requested) for the Ministry of Transport and the investor to ensure the quality and progress of the project, and comply with regulations.

According to the plan, from July 1, the contractor will pilot the use of sea sand to build roads at the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section project, part of the North - South Eastern Expressway project in the 2021 - 2025 phase, to ensure completion by December 31, 2025.

Previously, in the first 6 months of the year, the transport sector recorded 4 completed expressway projects put into operation; of which, 2 expressway projects invested in the form of BOT, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao, Dien Chau - Bai Vot, on June 30 promptly put into operation the remaining 19 km from National Highway 46B to Bai Vot in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister. Thereby, all 11 component projects of the North - South Eastern Expressway in the 2017 - 2020 period were put into operation, helping to connect and shorten the travel time from Hanoi to Vinh and from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang, bringing the total number of expressway kilometers nationwide to more than 2,000 km.

6 railway projects in the period of 2021 - 2025 have also been approved and the contractor selection is being implemented for 1 ODA project and 1 project using increased revenue and cost savings in 2022. 2 urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are being focused on, the Nhon - Hanoi station route is expected to be put into operation in July 2024, and the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien route will be put into operation in December 2024.

Chief of Office Uong Viet Dung also informed that the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Railway Project Management Board to prepare the Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the railway projects: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hai Phong, Hanoi Eastern Belt, Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Thu Thiem - Long Thanh, adjusted the Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan project, and assigned the investor to prepare the Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Vung Ang - Mu Gia project.

Regarding aviation, package 5.10 of Long Thanh International Airport project is being constructed ahead of schedule compared to the contract, and the T3 project of Tan Son Nhat International Airport is ensuring progress according to the Prime Minister's direction, striving to complete 3 months ahead of schedule.

In the maritime and inland waterway sectors, the Cai Mep - Thi Vai waterway upgrade project and the project to renovate and upgrade the maritime channel to the ports in the South Nghi Son area, Thanh Hoa are on schedule. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport is urgently completing procedures to prepare for investment in the Quy Nhon waterway upgrade project and the project to develop waterway and logistics corridors in the Southern region.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Transport will direct specialized management agencies to strengthen the renovation and upgrading of infrastructure of ports, wharves, and stations serving passengers; coordinate with localities to ensure adequate means of transport to serve the safe and convenient travel needs of people.

Regarding the disbursement of public investment capital, with the determination to disburse the maximum capital of 61.9 trillion VND, the Ministry of Transport also considered adjusting the 2024 capital plan of slow-disbursement projects to other projects with fast disbursement and need for additional capital according to regulations, ensuring the target of 100% of the 2024 capital plan.

According to the Chief of Office of the Ministry of Transport Uong Viet Dung, the Ministry of Transport has assigned detailed capital plans in 3 phases, and has approved the final settlement of 13/42 projects with a total value of 6,275 billion VND. The disbursement result in the first 6 months of the year was 25,500 billion VND, reaching 40% of the assigned plan.

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