PM sets construction, completion deadlines for key transport projects in Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to accelerate work on major projects across the country, and provided deadlines for either construction or completion.

The PM, also head of the Steering Committee for Key National Transport Projects, demanded such acceleration while chairing the 5th session of the committee Wednesday, held to help remove difficulties and obstacles facing key works.

The committee, at the meeting, reviewed and evaluated the implementation of 31 key national transport projects, including North-South Expressway, East-West Highway connecting six socio-economic regions, the ring roads in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, urban railways in the two largest cities, Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province next to HCMC, and Passenger Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC.

Expressway projects under construction, including Mai Son-National Highway 45, Dau Giay-Phan Thiet, and Phan Thiet-Vinh Hao, must be put into operation no later than April 30, the PM said.

For the three expressway projects of Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, and Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot, construction must start by June 30, the government leader said.

June 30 is also the deadline to begin construction of Ring Road 4 in the Hanoi region and Ring Road 3 in the HCMC region.

For the Ninh Binh-Nam Dinh-Thai Binh Expressway project in the three northern provinces, it is necessary to review the investment size, Chinh told the meeting.

As for the Long Thanh International Airport project, expected to help ease congestion at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the PM requested the transport ministry, state agencies and the country’s Committee for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to work out measures to speed up the construction, ensure quality, and organize open and transparent bidding to select capable contractors for the major project.

The ministry was asked, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and related localities, to submit to the government and the National Assembly a proposal for adjustment of forest and rice cultivation land areas under the North-South Expressway project in the 2021-2025 period.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was requested to speed up adjustment of the implementation time of the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong Urban Railway Project in HCMC, and appraisal of the investment adjustment of the Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho Expressway project.

The Ministry of Finance was told to work with partners, donors, and related agencies to discuss an agreement for the 4th credit line for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Urban Railway project in HCMC.

The Ministry of Construction was required to rapidly collect appraisals from authorized agencies for sub-projects in Ring Road 4 in the Hanoi region.

The PM requested the Committee for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to properly select competent contractors for the Passenger Terminal T3 project at Tan Son Nhat Airport.