The expansion project of National Highway 13, which passes through the old Binh Duong province, was initially invested in under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) form with six lanes by the Total Corporation Becamex IDC (a company under the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee).
Starting in April 2022, the project aimed for completion by the end of 2023. To expedite progress, the Binh Duong provincial leadership directed construction following the “conveyor belt” approach – working on areas where cleared land was available.
However, the project encountered significant obstacles regarding cleared land and the cost of relocating power lines. Once these issues were addressed by the local government accelerating land clearance for 488 households and 53 organizations, and providing a budget advance for power line relocation, the project faced further delays due to administrative procedures.
The project was appraised by the Binh Duong (old) Appraisal Council but was not approved before a change in management due to provincial and city mergers. Ho Chi Minh City had to establish a new council to re-appraise the project before submitting it to the competent authority for approval.
The existing roadbed was invested in by Becamex, and the state has basically compensated for the expanded area. Becamex has proactively constructed some sections, but the legal documents are not yet complete.
To date, many sections of National Highway 13 have been asphalted in a “leopard skin” manner, with construction progressing as land becomes available. Becamex is continuing construction, but if the legal issues are not resolved promptly, the contractor will not be able to implement a synchronized plan, leading to prolonged and incomplete construction. This not only causes traffic congestion but also affects the livelihoods and sense of security of the local residents.
Recently, during a survey of the National Highway 13 upgrade and expansion project, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Bui Xuan Cuong, stated that the investor, Becamex, still has the old BOT contract, which will expire in 2037. However, with the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Investment Law and Ho Chi Minh City’s Resolution 98, which permits BOT exploitation on old routes, the investor needs to agree on adjusting the investment project.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh Huy, Deputy General Director of Becamex Corporation, said that the toll at the BOT station after the completion of the National Highway 13 upgrade and expansion project remains unchanged at VND 14,000.
CLIP: Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Bui Xuan Cuong, surveys National Highway 13 and the intersection with the Belt Road 3 flyover
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