People look forward to the 3,800 billion VND transportation project

On the morning of October 24, we were present at the coastal road construction investment project connecting Hai Phong with Thai Binh (Hai Phong coastal road project). This is one of many trillion-dollar projects invested in construction to serve the socio-economic development goals of Hai Phong City as well as promote intra-regional and inter-regional trade.

The intersection of the Hai Phong coastal road project with Provincial Road 353 was blocked by the contractor with concrete after the incident of the youngest singer in Vietnam dying in an accident on this route.

According to information from the Hai Phong City People's Committee, the Hai Phong coastal road project has a total length of nearly 30 km, of which the section passing through Hai Phong City is nearly 21 km long, and nearly 9 km passing through Thai Binh province. The total initial investment of the project is more than 3,400 billion VND in the form of public-private partnership (BOT).

Of which, 720 billion VND is the State capital participating in the project implementation, taken from the Government bond capital used to serve the site clearance work in Hai Phong City. The rest is the investor's capital and loan capital. The project recovers capital through toll collection, expected to take 23 years.

The investor of the Hai Phong coastal road project is a joint venture between Construction Corporation No. 1 - JSC (CC1) and Bui Vu Investment and Construction JSC. The enterprise assigned by the investor to directly manage and implement the project is Hai Phong Coastal Road Investment Company Limited.

The project started on May 13, 2017 and was expected to be completed in 2019. However, due to many difficulties related to landfill materials, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the investor's capital, the project could not be completed on time.

After many adjustments to the schedule, the "deadline" was set to be completed in June 2023. Along with that, the investment capital also increased to nearly 3,800 billion VND. However, by the end of October 2023, the project was still unfinished, with many items "shelved" or under construction at a slow pace.

Construction machinery is "shelved" next to the unfinished 3,800 billion VND transportation project.

According to our observations, the section from the intersection with Provincial Road 353 in Do Son district to the Van Uc river overpass in Kien Thuy district (in Hai Phong city), after completing the gravel road surface, some sections were paved with asphalt, and street lighting systems were installed, the construction unit withdrew all workers and machinery.

The Van Uc River Overpass connecting Tien Lang District and Kien Thuy District (both in Hai Phong City), one of two large bridges on the entire route with a total investment of about 800 billion VND, although completed, has not been put into use because the road has not been completed. To prevent traffic from passing, the construction unit erected large concrete bars to block both ends of the bridge.

The section passing through Tien Lang district, Hai Phong city, the contractor is constructing the roadbed. However, most of the section is in a “shelved” state, the rest is under construction at a slow pace. According to information from the Hai Phong Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, the cause of this situation is the scarcity of sand supply for filling.

Meanwhile, the bridge over Thai Binh River connecting Tien Lang District (Hai Phong City) with Thai Thuy District (Thai Binh Province) is in the same situation. Currently, the contractor is working while waiting for changes and adjustments to the entire project, so the progress is very slow.

Faced with the slow progress of the Hai Phong coastal road project, people living near the project are very anxious and worried. Talking to Nguoi Dua Tin, Mr. Lau, in Doan Xa commune, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong city, shared: "For more than 6 years, we, the people, have been waiting for the project to be completed and put into use to make transportation more convenient as well as create conditions for agricultural product consumption, promote local socio-economic development".

The Van Uc River overpass with an investment capital of 800 billion has not been put into use due to the unfinished road.

Regarding the Hai Phong coastal road project being behind schedule, construction being slow, and many sections being "shelved" for a long time, according to information from the Hai Phong Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, the current construction value of the project has only reached more than 70% of the total construction value according to the contract. According to the current progress, the project will hardly be completed in 2023.

The reason for the project's delay is the scarcity of sand for filling the roadbed. Due to the scarcity, the price of sand for filling has increased by about 2.5 times compared to when the project was approved. In addition, the price of steel and interest rates on loans to implement the project have also increased, causing difficulties for the contractor.

To remove difficulties and obstacles to help the Hai Phong coastal road project be completed and put into use soon, thereby contributing to the completion of the transport system, promoting intra-regional and inter-regional trade, the Hai Phong City People's Committee has directed relevant departments and branches to coordinate with investors and contractors to carry out processes and procedures to report to the Prime Minister for consideration and resolution, especially adjusting loan interest rates .

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/hai-phong-nguoi-dan-mong-ngong-du-an-giao-thong-3800-ty-a632509.html