Aspiring to Achieve 3,000 km of Expressway by the End of 2025

20 August, 2024

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sets the target of completing 3,000 km of expressways by the end of 2025

After the 12th meeting of the State Steering Committee for important national projects in the transport sector, ministries, sectors, and localities have made efforts in implementing tasks, focusing on investment preparation and execution. Some notable achievements include:

Hanoi completed the inspection and acceptance of the elevated section of the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station project and put it into operation, creating excitement and trust among the people.
The Ministry of Transport submitted and obtained the National Assembly’s approval for the Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh investment policy. They also reported to the Government about the high-speed North-South railway project and approved the Dau Giay – Tan Phu expressway project. The remaining section of the Dien Chau – Bai Vot sub-project was completed and put into operation.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment completed the appraisal of the Dau Giay – Tan Phu and Dong Dang – Tra Linh projects.
Ho Chi Minh City approved the investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai project under the PPP format. They also adjusted the investment policy for the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line.
The Ministry of Construction cooperated with the Ministry of Transport to complete the survey of certain norms in expressway projects and is finalizing amendments to the Circular on construction norms.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Government to issue Decree No. 91/2024/ND-CP on July 18, 2024, resolving many difficulties in procedures for changing forest use purposes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment explained the opinions of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee and is implementing procedures for the Government to report to the Standing Committee on adjusting the policy on changing the purpose of forest, forest land, and two-crop rice land use for the North-South expressway project in the East. They also advised the Prime Minister to assign indicators for supplying sand materials for projects in the South.

According to the Ministry of Transport’s report, about 1,700 km of expressway projects are under construction nationwide, including those in the North-South expressway axis, connecting projects in the East-West axis, connecting the Northwest and Central Highlands regions, and linking 48 provinces and cities. Approximately 1,200 km are expected to be completed by 2025, bringing the total length of expressways nationwide to over 3,000 km.

Accelerating progress and promoting the disbursement of public investment capital

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects in the transport sector, directed that the general task related to key national projects is to accelerate progress and promote the disbursement of public investment capital. The total investment for transport projects nationwide in 2024 is very large, about VND 200 trillion, contributing to driving growth.

Ministries and sectors, according to their assigned functions and tasks, urgently and proactively handle procedures and guide localities and related ministries and sectors to speed up investment preparation and execution. This should be done with a higher level of effort, determination, and intensity, focusing on key tasks and intensive direction. Clear assignments, specific tasks, and timelines are necessary, along with concrete products, to strive together and promote the high-point 500-day and 500-night emulation movement to complete 3,000 km of expressways. This movement celebrates 50 years of liberating the South, unifying the country, 80 years of national independence, and welcomes the Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress.

Focus on key requirements and tasks

For projects that have not completed investment procedures, it is necessary to urgently coordinate with ministries and sectors to expedite investment procedures, arrange capital for projects, and resolve issues with a focus on key tasks. Timely reporting of difficulties and obstacles to the Prime Minister is essential.

Localities must mobilize the entire political system to engage in site clearance work. Party committees at all levels should direct the authorities to mobilize the people, and mass organizations should participate in support. Site clearance must be completed on schedule without delay.

Focus on relocating technical infrastructure and high-voltage power lines without affecting people’s lives and interrupting power supply.

Bidding and contractor selection must be urgent, objective, and transparent according to legal regulations. It is necessary to resolutely fight against “buying and selling” bids, embezzlement, corruption, waste, and negativity.

Ministries, sectors, and localities should focus on ensuring the supply of construction materials. Localities, investors, Project Management Boards, and contractors must proactively work together to resolve issues related to project material sources.

While accelerating progress, it is crucial to ensure quality, labor safety, environmental hygiene, and technical and artistic aspects. Attention should be given to restoring communal roads, and construction should minimize the impact on people’s lives.

Ensuring the completion of the target of 3,000 km of expressways by the end of 2025

The time from now to the end of 2025 is not much, and it is a phase that needs to deploy a large volume of work. A breakthrough and acceleration are necessary, especially for projects planned to be completed in 2025. Therefore, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requests:

Urgently develop and issue a detailed plan for the “critical path” to complete projects in 2025, taking into account site clearance conditions, material sources, and weather conditions. This plan will serve as a basis for monitoring, urging, directing, and closely controlling the construction progress of projects, ensuring the completion of the target of 3,000 km of expressways by the end of 2025. Clear assignments, responsibilities, tasks, timelines, and results are necessary, along with strengthened supervision and inspection.
Launch and effectively organize the implementation of the emulation movement “500 days and nights of high-point completion of expressway projects” to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day, 50 years of liberating the South and unifying the country, Party Congresses at all levels, and towards the 14th National Party Congress.
Site clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure (high-voltage power lines): This task significantly impacts the critical path. Many projects have a small amount of site clearance left, but it is challenging. Therefore, localities need to focus more, be more determined, and mobilize the entire political system as directed by the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 54/CD-TTg dated May 2, 2024, to complete site clearance as soon as possible.
Regarding construction implementation, the Ministry of Transport, localities assigned as managing agencies, and the State Capital Management Committee direct investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to remove difficulties and obstacles in site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, and supply of construction materials. They should be highly focused, determined, and make great efforts to construct with the spirit of “overcoming the sun, winning the rain,” “only discussing doing, not discussing backing down,” “3 shifts, 4 groups,” “eating in a hurry, sleeping in a hurry,” “going through holidays, Tet, and days off,” “doing one thing at a time,” “keeping promises, and doing what is said.” This will help speed up the progress of project implementation.
The Ministry of Transport and localities should direct Project Management Boards and contractors to proactively focus on constructing critical path items such as large tunnels, large bridges, areas requiring soil improvement, and soft ground treatment.

Soon overcoming difficulties and obstacles in site clearance

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the Ministry of Transport coordinate with localities to develop a detailed plan for the “critical path” to complete projects in 2025, ensuring the completion of the target of 3,000 km of expressways by the end of 2025. Especially for the 436 km of 14 projects/sub-projects that are behind schedule, there must be a sense of proactiveness, determination, and outstanding efforts from managing agencies, investors, and contractors to meet the deadline. This should be completed by August 2024.

The Ministry of Transport should continue to direct investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to soon overcome difficulties and obstacles in site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, and supply of construction materials. Ensure sufficient reserves and capacity to meet the construction progress of projects, especially the sub-projects of Can Tho – Ca Mau, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, and Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan. Develop a reasonable construction plan and organize construction with “3 shifts and 4 groups” to accelerate the progress and complete the North-South expressway project in the 2021-2025 period, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, and Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan in 2025, and the 2 sub-projects of Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot and Ho Chi Minh Road as planned.

The Ministry of Transport should urgently select investors to soon start the Dau Giay – Tan Phu project. Complete the procedures to submit to the National Assembly for adjusting the investment policy of the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau project. Finalize the proposal for the investment policy of the high-speed North-South railway project to soon submit to the competent authorities.

Nhat Quang