“Completing the 3,000km Highway Goal by End-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 implementation. Some notable examples include:

1. Hanoi completed the acceptance of the elevated section of the Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station urban railway and put it into operation, creating excitement and trust among the people.
2. The Ministry of Transport submitted and received the National Assembly’s approval for the investment policy of the Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh project. They also reported to the Government about the high-speed North-South railway project and approved the Dau Giay – Tan Phu expressway project. They completed the exploitation of the remaining section of the Dien Chau – Bai Vot sub-project.
3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment completed the appraisal of the Dau Giay – Tan Phu and Dong Dang – Tra Linh projects.
4. Ho Chi Minh City completed the approval of the investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai project under the PPP format. They also approved the adjustment of the investment policy for the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien urban railway project.
5. The Ministry of Construction coordinated with the Ministry of Transport to complete the survey of some norms in expressway projects and is finalizing the amendment of the Circular on construction norms.
6. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Government to issue Decree No. 91/2024/ND-CP dated July 18, 2024, resolving many difficulties in procedures for forest purpose conversion.
7. 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 National Assembly’s Standing Committee on adjusting the policy of forest, forest land, and paddy land conversion of the North-South expressway project in the Eastern region for the 2021-2025 period. They also advised the Prime Minister to assign indicators for supplying sand materials for projects in the Southern region.

According to the report of the Ministry of Transport, there are about 1,700 km of expressway projects under construction nationwide, from the North-South expressway projects to the connecting projects along the East-West axis, connecting the Northwest region, the Central Highlands region, connecting regions, and 48 provinces and cities. Of which, about 1,200 km is expected to be completed by 2025 (bringing the total length of expressways nationwide to over 3,000 km).

Promoting Progress and Accelerating Public Investment Disbursement

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 promote progress and accelerate public investment disbursement. The total investment for transport projects nationwide in 2024 is very large, about 200 trillion VND, contributing to driving growth.

Ministries and sectors urgently and proactively handle procedures, guide localities and related ministries and sectors to speed up investment preparation and implementation with a sense of responsibility, higher determination, stronger actions, and a more focused approach. They should provide close supervision, clear assignment of tasks, and specific timelines to achieve concrete results. Together, we strive to respond to the high-point emulation movement of 500 days and nights to complete 3,000 km of expressways, celebrating 50 years of the liberation of the South and national reunification, 80 years of independence, and welcoming Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress.

In this spirit, we need to focus on the following key requirements and tasks:

1. 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 pending issues with a sense of focus. Timely report difficulties and obstacles to the Prime Minister.
2. Localities must mobilize the entire political system to participate in site clearance work. Party committees at all levels should direct the authorities to mobilize the people, and organizations and mass organizations should provide support. Resolve to complete site clearance on schedule without delay.
3. Focus on relocating technical infrastructure and high-voltage power lines without affecting people’s lives and interrupting power supply.
4. The bidding and selection of contractors must be urgent, objective, and transparent according to legal regulations. Firmly fight against “buying and selling” bids, embezzlement, corruption, and waste…
5. Ministries, sectors, and localities should focus on and strongly resolve to ensure the supply of sufficient and timely construction materials. Localities, investors, Project Management Boards, and contractors must proactively work together to resolve issues related to project materials.
6. Accelerate progress while ensuring quality, labor safety, environmental hygiene, and technical and artistic aspects. Pay attention to the restoration of communal roads and 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 period of large-scale deployment, requiring breakthroughs and acceleration, especially for projects planned to be completed in 2025. Therefore, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requests:

1. Urgently develop and issue a detailed plan for the “critical path” to complete projects in 2025″ suitable for site clearance conditions, material sources, and weather conditions. This 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. Clearly define responsibilities and assign specific tasks, timelines, and outcomes to individuals, and strengthen supervision and inspection.
2. Launch and effectively organize the implementation of the emulation movement “500 days and nights to complete the victory of expressway projects” to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day, 50 years since the liberation of the South and national reunification, Party Congresses at all levels, and towards the 14th National Party Congress.
3. Site clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure (high-voltage power lines): This is a very important task that directly affects the critical path. Many projects have a small amount of site clearance left, but it is challenging. Therefore, localities should focus more, take stronger actions, 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.
4. Regarding construction implementation, the Ministry of Transport, localities assigned as managing agencies, and the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises shall direct investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to remove difficulties and obstacles related to site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, and supply of construction materials. They should be determined, highly focused, and make great efforts to carry out construction with the spirit of “overcoming the sun, winning against 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,” “if committed, must do, if promised, must keep” to accelerate the progress of project implementation.
5. The Ministry of Transport and localities shall 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 the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with localities to build 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, it requires the proactiveness, determination, and outstanding efforts of managing agencies, investors, and contractors to meet the schedule. Complete in August 2024.

The Ministry of Transport continues 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, ensuring sufficient reserves and capacity to meet the construction schedule of projects, especially the Dien Chau – Bai Vot sub-project, Can Tho – Ca Mau, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, and Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan. Build a reasonable construction plan and organize construction with “3 shifts, 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 Dien Chau – Bai Vot sub-project 2 in Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot and Ho Chi Minh Road as planned.

The Ministry of Transport urgently selects 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. Complete the proposal for the investment policy of the high-speed North-South railway project to soon submit to the competent authorities.

Tue Van