The event was held directly at the An Giang provincial bridge and online to the bridges in Hau Giang, Soc Trang, and Can Tho provinces, responding to the 75th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation (June 11, 1948/June 11, 2023) and the emulation movement "Promoting the development of synchronous and modern infrastructure; practicing thrift, fighting waste" launched by the Central Emulation and Reward Council.

Also attending the event at the An Giang bridge were Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; leaders of central ministries and branches; leaders of An Giang, Kien Giang, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang provinces. Also attending the bridge in Can Tho city, Soc Trang province, and Hau Giang were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai; leaders of central ministries and branches; leaders of Can Tho city, Soc Trang province, and Hau Giang province.

The Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway Project is a central cross-axis expressway in the Mekong Delta region through Can Tho City, An Giang, Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces with a length of more than 188km, and a total investment of nearly 45,000 billion VND. The starting point of the project connects National Highway 91 in Chau Doc City (An Giang), the end point is the intersection of National Highway Nam Song Hau, connecting the road leading to Tran De Port (Soc Trang).

The project is divided into 4 component projects: Component 1 in An Giang province is 57km long; Component 2 through Can Tho is more than 37km long; Component 3 through Hau Giang is about 37km long and Component 4 through Soc Trang is 58.37km long. It is expected that the project will be basically completed in 2026 and put into operation in 2027. In phase 1, the project will be invested in a 4-lane scale, with a design speed of 100km/h; in the final phase, the project will be invested in a 6-lane scale.

Leaders and commanders of Army Corps 12 warmly welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to attend the groundbreaking ceremony.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Delegates attending the project groundbreaking ceremony.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates pressed the button to start the project.

Representing the project contractors, Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Commander of Corps 12 (Truong Son Construction Corporation, Ministry of National Defense) said: “We are very honored and proud to participate in the construction of component 1, component 3, and component 4 with a budget of VND 8,400 billion. However, this is also a project that requires high technical and quality requirements, urgent progress, and construction in conditions of weak ground, complex geology, scarce materials, and difficult transportation... However, determining the importance of the project, the honor and pride are associated with great responsibility, especially with the spirit of "Opening the way to victory", the courage and construction experience of generations of cadres and engineers, along with advanced equipment and modern technology... we are determined to bring the project to the finish line on schedule, ensuring good quality".

Project groundbreaking ceremony scene.
Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Commander of the 12th Corps, presented the "Great Unity House" plaque to the representative of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of An Giang province.
Project starting point at National Highway 91, Chau Doc City (An Giang).

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: The 13th National Party Congress continued to identify the construction of a synchronous infrastructure system as one of three strategic breakthroughs, prioritizing the development of a number of key national projects on transport and adaptation to climate change... In recent times, the Party, the National Assembly and the Government have devoted large resources to developing transport infrastructure including: Expressway systems, international airports, urban railways, seaports... and have allocated investment with focus and key areas in key regions and areas to create an important driving force for socio-economic development of regions and the country. Practice has proven that transport in general and expressways, airports and ports in particular have brought about clear effects on socio-economic development. Wherever transportation develops, new space for socio-economic development will be opened up, many urban areas, industrial parks, services, and tourism will be formed, and land funds will be exploited effectively...

The implementation of investment in the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway is consistent with the direction of the Politburo in Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW "Building the Mekong Delta region into a key economic development region of the country with high, effective and sustainable economic growth" and the strategic breakthrough policy for socio-economic development in the period of 2021-2030 was identified at the 13th National Congress of the Party as "Building a synchronous infrastructure system with a number of modern works. Focusing on investing in large-scale national key infrastructure projects, especially in transportation" to achieve the goal of "By 2030, striving for the whole country to have about 5,000km of expressways".

In a very short time of about 1 year compared to the average of 2 years according to the usual implementation method, An Giang province and 3 provinces and cities: Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, together with ministries, branches, and related units... have made efforts to simultaneously start construction of 4 component projects with the goal of basically completing and putting the entire expressway into operation in 2026 by 2025. "With that result, I highly appreciate and commend the efforts and sense of responsibility of the People's Committees of localities, the Ministry of Transport, specialized agencies under the ministry, project management boards, consulting units; especially the provinces and cities that have coordinated the implementation; commend the authorities and people where the project passes through for their efforts in site clearance, creating all favorable conditions for project implementation", Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.

The Head of Government also said that the results achieved were very remarkable, however, the upcoming work is still very large and challenging. That is to continue to clear the remaining locations, including many locations with high population density, which are prone to complaints. That is to prepare a large volume of construction materials and waste disposal sites, requiring the active participation of localities in granting mining licenses. That is to carry out a very large volume of construction in a short period of time and be affected by weather conditions.

Therefore, in order for the project to be completed safely, with quality and on schedule, the Prime Minister requested: The People's Committees of localities need to focus on directing and requiring the Project Management Board, supervision consultants and contractors to promote the highest sense of responsibility, develop plans and construction methods in a scientific, detailed and appropriate manner, ensuring efficiency, construction quality and organizing safe and smooth traffic, maintaining environmental sanitation; at the same time, mobilizing human resources and modern machinery and equipment for construction; strictly complying with technical requirements and regulations of relevant laws, not allowing corruption, negativity and waste to occur, causing loss of state assets.

Relevant ministries, branches of the Central Government, and local People's Committees shall coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to continue to create favorable conditions, promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, and ensure security and order so that the Project Management Board and contractors can ensure progress and efficiency. In particular, An Giang province and provinces with mineral mines for construction materials are required to prioritize the supply of sand materials for the project.

Implement compensation, support, resettlement and identify construction solid waste disposal sites according to regulations; ensure the handover of 70% of the construction site area and basically hand over the remaining area before December 31, 2023. In particular, pay special attention to resettlement work, support production stabilization so that people have new places to live, have new jobs equal to and better than the old place; people whose land must be recovered to serve the project support the State's major policy, create conditions for project construction units.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport to be responsible for inspecting and supervising the implementation of compliance with construction standards, national planning in the transport sector, investment plans, construction of works and projects, and synchronous connection with the network of transport works in operation. Provide guidance on project implementation procedures for localities to ensure synchronous and unified implementation; provide technical support, coordinate to remove difficulties and obstacles related to specialized technical issues (regulations, standards, technical solutions, etc.); inspect, supervise and urge localities during the implementation process, ensuring project progress.

Each individual participating in the project needs to raise their sense of responsibility for their work, for the industry, and even more so for the people and the Fatherland; innovate their thinking, ways of thinking, and ways of doing things to successfully complete their tasks, contributing to the implementation of component projects on schedule with the spirit of "all for the people, for the strength and prosperity of the country"...

The Prime Minister affirmed that the Government will always pay attention and give strong direction to complete the project as well as other infrastructure development investment projects on schedule and with quality; meeting the needs of socio-economic development and improving people's lives. "The commencement of the project is important, but the completion of this project in the next 2 years is even more important. Ministries, branches, localities, people and contractors need to join hands, be determined and make greater efforts, overcome difficulties, overcome challenges, overcome the sun and rain to complete the project on schedule, improve quality, avoid capital increase, avoid capital loss, ensure safety and hygiene at work, ensure people have a life and livelihood at least equal to or better than their old place of residence, prevent corruption, negativity and waste", the Prime Minister emphasized.

News and photos: QUANG DUC