The investment project to build Ring Road 4 - Capital Region belongs to the group of important national projects; the National Assembly decided to invest in Resolution No. 56/2022/QH15 dated June 16, 2022 and the Government issued Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP dated August 18, 2022 to implement the resolution of the National Assembly.

Promoting the Capital Region to "take off"

The planning space of the Hanoi Capital Region currently covers Hanoi City and 9 provinces: Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen; it is one of the key economic, social and political regions of the country. However, the inter-regional transport infrastructure system has not yet met the actual needs. Clearly recognizing the limitations in infrastructure connection, Resolution No. 56/2022/QH15 of the National Assembly sets the goal of investing in the construction of Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region, the inter-regional economic belt of the Hanoi Capital Region, connecting Hanoi Capital with Hung Yen province, Bac Ninh province and other localities in the region.

The leader of the Hanoi Department of Transport said that the framework transport infrastructure network of the Capital Region, with Hanoi as the central nucleus, is designed with a main framework of 7 expressways: Hanoi-Lao Cai; Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh; Hanoi-Thai Nguyen; Hanoi-Hai Phong; Cau Gie-Ninh Binh; Thang Long Boulevard; Noi Bai-Bac Ninh. Notably, all 7 main arterial routes are connected by Ring Road 4. "Ring Road 4 is the main backbone of the Capital Region's transport network. In the context of not having been invested in construction, all the pressure is on Ring Road 3 - a route that is only a belt belonging to the central urban area, reluctantly having to shoulder this special role", the leader of the Hanoi Department of Transport shared.

Ring Road 4 Project - Capital Region. Source: Hanoi People's Committee

According to experts, the investment in the construction of Ring Road 4 will help expand the development space, distribute urban pressure for Hanoi, and contribute to the formation of a new urban chain with great potential. The land fund of about 6,500 hectares west of Ring Road 4 is being studied for planning adjustment. Satellite cities in the districts of Me Linh, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc as well as many urban and industrial areas along the route in the provinces of Hung Yen, Bac Ninh... will develop very quickly when the Ring Road 4 project is implemented; At the same time, it will solve a series of traffic congestion points such as the southern gateway, Thanh Tri bridge, National Highway 2, National Highway 5, etc. Notably, Noi Bai airport - the international aviation gateway of the entire Capital Region will be directly connected to neighboring provinces and cities, reducing logistics costs for transport enterprises, reducing traffic pressure for Hanoi gateways, contributing to improving the competitiveness not only of Hanoi but also of related provinces and cities in the Capital Region and the whole country in general.

Expert Dao Huy Hoang (Institute of Transport Science and Technology) said that Ring Road 4 is essentially a circular route with the main function of inter-regional connection. At the same time, this is also a road located on the outskirts of the city, so he emphasized the need to focus on systematically developing main and radial axes. If these axes are systematically planned, with wide cross-sections and suitable distances, they will be the core factor in attracting residents from the inner city, developing the urban area and solving the current traffic congestion.

Architect Tran Huy Anh, Standing Member of the Hanoi Architects Association, commented: After the completion of Ring Road 4, it will attract residents to help disperse the inner city population. This is an opportunity, but also a challenge, because it must face the risk of spontaneous urban development and illegal construction in the style of oil slicks. He emphasized that the city needs to soon have a specific plan and at the same time strictly manage the land fund around the road.

"Unanimous from top to bottom, smooth from top to bottom"

Previously, on the afternoon of March 14, at the Hanoi Party Committee, Comrade Dinh Tien Dung, Politburo member, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region investment project chaired a working session with the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region investment project in the city on the project implementation situation, requesting each member of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the project in Hanoi; leaders at all levels and sectors to continue to participate with determination and the highest sense of responsibility; determine that all are for the common good; consider the results of the project implementation as their honor and responsibility. When implementing, all levels, sectors and each individual must closely follow the grassroots, ensure connectivity in the spirit of "unanimity from top to bottom, smooth operation from top to bottom"; ensure the set progress, any problems beyond their authority must be reported immediately.

People complete procedures to receive compensation support for land clearance. Photo: kinhtedothi.vn

Previously, site clearance faced many difficulties, because the area of ​​land to be recovered was up to hundreds of hectares, including agricultural land, residential land, traffic land, schools, cemeteries, and affected thousands of households. It is necessary to mention that there are common difficulties when recovering diagonal, distorted, difficult-to-cultivate land areas, with an area greater than or equal to 50m2 outside the site clearance boundary; cost issues with moving unexcavated graves; families with large areas of residential land recovered but not yet separated households, plots...; difficulties in identifying landowners and disputes over land clearance compensation; no documents proving land use rights and some plots of land used for the wrong purpose are now not compensated...

However, under the close direction of the City Party Committee, the City People's Committee and the participation of the entire political system, by June 20, localities had achieved many positive results in implementing site clearance work. To achieve the above results, Hanoi City has proactively and resolutely applied 4 main groups of solutions: Separating site clearance work into independent component projects; simultaneously implementing site clearance work with a number of tasks related to compensation, support and resettlement; organizing the preparation, approval and handover of site clearance design documents for localities to implement; reviewing and approving land use planning and plans, reviewing resettlement needs, on that basis organizing the preparation of investment projects to build resettlement areas, and implementing site clearance for resettlement areas (if any).

Along with that, Hanoi City and Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces have well organized the assignment, decentralization, and assignment of specific and detailed tasks to districts, towns, and related units, assigning responsibilities to the right addresses and right subjects. All levels and sectors have joined in propaganda and mobilization to ensure that no negative incidents occur in compensation and site clearance work.

"Lightning speed" site clearance, ready for groundbreaking day

Although the implementation process is sometimes slow and has problems, according to the report, by June 20, localities have basically met the site clearance progress according to Resolution No. 56/2022/QH15 of the National Assembly and Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP of the Government, which is to hand over 70% of the site before June 30, 2023, and start construction in June 2023.

At the working session to inspect the actual situation and progress of project implementation on the afternoon of June 20, a representative of the Hanoi Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board said that up to now, districts in Hanoi have recovered land and handed over 651.33/798.043ha, reaching 81.62%, exceeding the set target. The total number of tombs moved is 6,035/10,039 (reaching 60.12%). The total approved amount is 4,626.79 billion VND.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung inspects the groundbreaking site in Hoai Duc district. Photo: VIET THANH

Reporting at the meeting, representatives of 7 districts where the Ring Road 4 Project passes through said that, up to now, the site clearance work is exceeding the city's plan and all show high determination in the project implementation process.

One year after the National Assembly approved the investment policy for the Ring Road 4 Construction Project - Hanoi Capital Region (June 2022), this national key project will officially start construction on June 25. Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung pointed out: “I note that once construction has started, it must be done immediately, and once it is done, it must be done continuously. The investor must request the contractor to fully prepare machinery and materials to organize the construction. All levels, sectors, each agency, unit and each comrade must consider the project implementation to ensure progress in accordance with the National Assembly's resolution and Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022 of the Politburo, which is basically completed in 2026, put into operation from 2027; consider this a political task; once determined, we must be even more determined to implement it”.

The Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region project has a total length of 112.8km. The starting point of Ring Road 4 connects Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway, the end point connects Noi Bai-Ha Long Expressway. The project passes through Hanoi (58.2km long), Hung Yen (19.3km long), Bac Ninh (25.6km long) and the connecting route (9.7km long).

The project is invested in the form of using public investment capital combined with investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) method; divided into 3 project groups with 7 component projects and a total investment of 85,813 billion VND. The project is preparing for investment and implementation from 2022, expected to be basically completed in 2026 and put into operation from 2027.

THANH HUONG - HONG QUANG