On the afternoon of April 17, at the National Assembly House, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly gave its opinion on the Government’s Report on the Feasibility Study Report of the Investment Project for the Construction of the North-South Expressway, Western Section, Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) – Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc).
Authorized by the Government to present the report at the meeting, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang said that the North-South Expressway, Western Section, Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) – Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc) is a national key project.
According to the plan, the project will have a completed scale of 4 lanes, with land clearance to be carried out once according to the 6-lane planning scale. The preliminary total investment is estimated at 25,540 billion VND, including 12,770 billion VND of state capital and 12,770 billion VND of capital mobilized by investors.
According to Minister Thang, the implementation of the project will not only create momentum, but also serve the development of the socio-economic development of the Southeast and Central Highlands regions while contributing to the completion of the highway network according to the planned regional connection.
The aim of the project’s investment is to connect the Central Highlands with the Southeast region, to connect Ho Chi Minh City with the provinces of Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and other localities in the region, and to create new development spaces. Thereby, exploiting the potential for land use, developing tourism, processing and mining industries…
Representative of the Ministry of Transport – Photo: National Assembly
It is known that the investment project for the construction of the North-South Expressway, Western Section, Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) – Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc), has a starting point at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh Road (National Highway 14) at Km1915+900, in Dak R’Lap District, Dak Nong Province, and an end point connecting to the Ho Chi Minh Road section of Chon Thanh – Duc Hoa, in Chon Thanh Town, Binh Phuoc Province.
The total length of the expressway is about 128.8km. The section passing through Binh Phuoc is about 101km, the section passing through Dak Nong is about 27.8km, the length of the expressway is about 126.8km, and the length of the connecting section from the intersection with Ho Chi Minh City-Chon Thanh Expressway to the Ho Chi Minh Road section of Chon Thanh – Duc Hoa is about 2km.
Regarding the expected progress, according to the leader of the Ministry of Transport, the project will start investment preparation in 2023, and the project will be implemented from 2024, striving to complete the project in 2026.
Reviewing to ensure project investment is consistent with the plans
After listening to the delegates’ discussion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai said that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly agreed to submit to the National Assembly the investment plan for the construction of the North-South Expressway, Western Section, Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) – Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc) at the 7th Session of the 15th National Assembly.
In addition, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly also suggested noting some issues such as: Continuing to review to ensure that the project investment is consistent with the plans, land use planning indicators, proposing a preliminary calculation of total investment and a preliminary design plan to ensure savings and efficiency, in accordance with legal regulations, and avoiding impacts on the environmental ecosystem. Carefully assessing the factors affecting the implementation progress to find solutions so that the project can be basically completed by 2026, especially regarding land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement support and the selection of investors in the PPP form, the ability to arrange resources and the capacity to absorb and disburse capital…
Supplementing the dossier, clearly stating the necessity and appropriateness, complying with some contents related to reducing the length of investment, investing an additional 2km of connecting lines, analyzing more clearly the resettlement support plan, the costs related to conversion of forest use purposes… Compensation and support for resettlement must be transparent and in accordance with regulations to ensure a stable life for the people, and there must be close coordination between all levels, sectors, and localities and determination to ensure the project’s progress.
Finding solutions to handle difficulties and obstacles to avoid the lack of raw materials, dumping grounds, and other necessary conditions to complete the project with quality and on schedule.
Thoroughly assessing the impact of investing in the existing BOT road project to find appropriate solutions, harmonizing the interests of the State, the people, and investors, and preventing hot spots in order and security.
Regarding special mechanisms, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly basically agreed to submit to the National Assembly to allow the project to apply mechanisms for project implementation, bid selection, and exploitation of minerals as ordinary materials to implement the project. However, it is necessary to review and adjust the contents that the Audit Agency specifically proposed, only proposing nomination mechanisms for contents that exceed the provisions of the Bidding Law; supplementing the regulations that the contractor and the People’s Committees of the provinces must follow similar to those in Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 4 of Resolution 106 of the National Assembly.
According to the plan, the expressway network consists of 41 routes with a total length of about 9,014 km. The whole country has now put into operation about 1,892 km of expressways, is building 1,600 km, and preparing investment in about 1,267 km. Of which, the North-South Expressway Eastern Section will be basically completed by 2025.
