Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at a working session with leaders of ministries, departments, and provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Binh on the afternoon of February 17. Photo: VGP |
At the meeting, delegates reported on the progress of land clearance, handover of premises, and construction of projects; identified difficulties, tasks, solutions in the coming time, as well as proposals and recommendations.
The 500kV circuit 3 project consists of 4 component projects, with a total length of 519 km, connecting from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen) with a total investment capital of about VND 23,000 billion (nearly USD 1 billion). These projects all started construction in October 2023 and January 2024.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested that this line be completed by June 2024 to increase power supply for the northern region and avoid localized power shortages like the peak season in the summer of 2023.
According to a report from EVN, after a inspection by the Prime Minister in two days from January 27-28, simultaneous construction activities have been carried out throughout the route, and many difficulties and problems have been resolved through the coordination of units.
So far, a total of 1,114/1,180 (94%) column foundation positions have been handed over. The entire project has 226 bidding packages, and up to now, the contracts have been basically signed (only 4 bidding packages are undergoing procedures in the next few days).
Since January 28th until February 16th, 2024, an additional 38 foundation positions have been completed, 421 foundation positions have been deployed for construction, and 733 foundation positions have been handed over.
However, the biggest obstacle currently facing the project is the procedures for converting forest land, which impact the forest to create temporary access roads for the construction of each component project; construction activities face difficulties in mobilizing machinery and equipment.
The East-West North-South Expressway passes through the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Binh, consisting of 6 component projects.
In which, the 2017-2020 phase has the Dien Chau (Nghe An) – Bai Vot (Ha Tinh) section invested under the BOT form, with a length of 49.3 km and a total investment of VND 13,339 billion, and an estimated construction time of 3 years. This project has basically completed the land clearance work; the output value of the contractors is VND 6,157 / 8,595 billion, equivalent to 72% of the contract value.
However, the progress of some items has not met the requirements, and there are still more than 6 km of road foundations that need to wait for the settlement until April-September 2024 to have enough time for unloading, and the project is at risk of not meeting the requirements of the Prime Minister (completion by 30th April 2024).
In the 2021-2025 phase, the investment in the section from Bai Vot (Ha Tinh) to Cam Lo (Quang Tri) consists of 5 component projects, and is carried out by the Ministry of Transport as the managing agency, financed under the form of public investment. It has a total length of 259 km and a total investment of over VND 49,207 billion. Construction has been deployed since January 1, 2023, and is expected to be completed in 2025.
For these 5 projects, the area of cleared land handed over so far has reached 94%, but only about 210/226.6 km of construction has been organized, reaching 93%. Ha Tinh province has a high rate of land clearance for construction, reaching 99%. Quang Binh province has a slower rate of land clearance, reaching 88%. The remaining land consists mainly of residential land, with complex relocation procedures and technical infrastructure projects involving many agencies and units.
Immediately after the groundbreaking of the 5 projects, the Ministry of Transport has resolutely directed units to take advantage of favorable weather conditions, concentrate resources to organize construction. Up to now, the units have mobilized 2,118 types of machinery and equipment, 5,137 construction personnel, 114 supervision and consulting personnel, and organized 222 construction sites (123 bridge construction sites, 99 road construction sites, tunnels, and some other facilities on the route).
By now, the output of the 5 projects is about VND 8,329/30,410 billion, reaching 27.4% of the contract value, basically meeting the required progress. Some sections of the Vung Ang-Bung, Bung-Van Ninh sections have good implementation progress.
However, Quang Binh province (from Van Ninh to Cam Lo) still has 2 sections of the Ho Chi Minh Road, with a length of about 3.1 km, that have not completed the land clearance for the construction roads to be returned to serve the main route. The construction of resettlement areas (in Quang Binh), the relocation of technical infrastructure works, especially the high-voltage power system (in Ha Tinh), are behind schedule compared to the set timeframe. Sand exploitation is regulated from 7 am to 5 pm daily, thus it has not yet met the requirements of “3 shifts, 4 teams” according to the direction of the Prime Minister.
Considering all 6 expressway projects, in 2023, disbursement has reached VND 47,199/47,881 billion, meeting 99% of the plan.
Investors and localities have made some recommendations regarding the above-mentioned expressway projects, such as immediately investing in the left branch of the Thanh Vu tunnel and a 5 km bridge to connect (on the Dien Chau-Bai Vot section) (currently, only the right branch of the tunnel is being constructed, while the left branch is planned to be invested in later); converting some sections to build overland bridges in Quang Binh province; constructing additional interchanges (such as the interchange connecting with VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park) to open new development space and maximize the effectiveness of the projects.
The relevant agencies also proposed amending regulations related to forest impact in accordance with Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP detailed regulations for the implementation of some provisions of the Forestry Law.
“Only talk about doing, not talking about setbacks”
In conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that ministries, departments, local authorities, agencies, investors, construction units, and supervision consultants continue to seriously and effectively implement the Prime Minister’s instructions regarding expressway and 500kV circuit 3 projects, with the spirit of “only talk about doing, not talking about setbacks, take advantage of every opportunity, work urgently, overcome the sun, win over the rain, work in 3 shifts, 4 teams, work through holidays and Tet,” ensuring progress, quality, techniques, aesthetics of the projects, ensuring safety, sanitation, environment, anti-corruption, negative phenomena, and waste prevention. Localities should focus on ensuring security and safety at project implementation sites.
 Deputy Prime Minister discusses with relevant units during field inspection of projects. Photo: VGP |
Regarding forest-related issues, Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to promptly complete the Government’s report on the results of implementing Resolution No. 273/NQ-UBTVQH15 on the policy of converting the purpose of using forests, forest land, and paddy land for two crops or more of the expressway project construction in the 2021-2025 phase, including the additional area; and submit it to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration at the earliest session.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the relevant ministries and departments urgently submit to the government a report for review and handling of obstacles related to regulations impacting forests for the construction of temporary access roads for projects (after the projects are completed, the forest land will be returned). In the short term, submit to the government for issuance a resolution on this matter in the last week of February 2024; then continue to submit the amendments to issue the revised Decree 156 and related regulations to solve the existing difficulties.
The relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, together with investors, contractors, closely coordinate to promptly complete land clearance and handover for expressway and 500kV circuit projects according to the assigned schedule. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment studies and provides general guidelines for localities in cases of difficulties in identifying land users.
The Deputy Prime Minister also directed the handling of obstacles related to the relocation of technical infrastructure works, including the high-voltage power lines (the Ministry of Industry and Trade directs EVN to work closely with localities and relevant units to handle this matter).
The Ministry of Construction instructs the method of determining the price of materials at the mine for localities to announce the foundation for approving payment prices for contractors to construct expressways, including the new material, marine sand.
Regarding the 500kV circuit 3, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that the investor and contractor strictly implement the Prime Minister’s opinions on working with the party committee, local government to mobilize labor and local resources during the construction process. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is assigned to promptly submit to the Prime Minister the adjustment of land use targets of power projects for localities.
Regarding the expressway projects, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha acknowledged and supported the proposals of the relevant localities for the construction of additional interchanges; he asked the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the comprehensive agencies to update and supplement the planning; calculate resources, capital mechanisms for implementing the construction of interchanges to ensure effectiveness.
Regarding the proposal to invest immediately in the left branch of the Thanh Vu tunnel and the connecting bridge (with a total implementation cost of about VND 1,400 billion), Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang said that the Ministry supports the idea because it is necessary, but it needs unanimous agreement from all investors and requires arrangement of capital sources. The Deputy Prime Minister requested the relevant stakeholders, especially the investors, to thoroughly study and calculate the overall effectiveness, report to the competent authorities for consideration and decision-making.
The agencies should carefully review the proposed adjustment of some sections from expressways to overland bridges. If necessary, make adjustments and propose to the competent authorities for approval.
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the agencies to continue to make the highest efforts, fulfill their highest responsibilities, for the country, for the people, and strive to complete the projects on schedule, including some projects on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, national reunification (April 30, 2025).
