Provincial Party Secretary: Need to clearly identify resources to develop transport infrastructure

On the morning of April 18, Inspection Team No. 1 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on the results of inspection, review and assessment of the implementation of programs and projects to implement the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress, led by Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, had a working session with the Department of Transport on the results of the implementation of the Project on Developing a complete transport infrastructure, forming a transport network connecting key economic zones of Nghe An province in the period of 2016-2020. Attending the meeting were Comrade Bui Thanh An - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee Inspection Committee; leaders of provincial departments, branches and sectors. Photo: Thanh Le

Completed 21 projects

Implementing the 18th Resolution of the Provincial Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term, the Department of Transport has advised on the development of a project to develop a complete transport infrastructure, forming a transport network connecting key economic zones of Nghe An province in the 2016-2020 period, and was approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 3953/QD-UBND dated August 17, 2016.

Since the project was implemented, the Transport sector has focused on calling for investment and mobilizing all resources within and outside the budget to build and develop transport infrastructure, forming a main transport network connecting key economic zones of the province.

Director of the Department of Transport Hoang Phu Hien reported on the implementation results of the Transport Infrastructure Development Project.

After more than 2 years of implementing the Project, the transport infrastructure has continued to develop strongly, achieving many positive results, basically completing the goals and tasks set out in the Project.

Many key and important projects have been completed and put into operation (the road connecting N5 - Nam Cam - Do Luong, upgrading and expanding National Highway 15, section Km315+700-Km320+700, Vinh - Hung Tay road, Yen Xuan bridge, railway overpasses, some items in Vinh airport, Cua Lo port, etc.) creating momentum and making an important contribution to the socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security of the province.

After more than 2 years of implementing the Project, about 8,625 billion VND has been mobilized to complete 21 projects; 9 projects are under construction, with a total investment of about 5,158 billion VND; procedures have been completed to prepare for investment in 11 projects, with a total investment of about 30,715 billion VND. There are 22 projects that have not been implemented with a total estimated investment of about 90,629 billion VND.

According to the report of the Department of Transport, it is expected that by 2020, there will be 23 projects and works that will be difficult to achieve the project's goals. Including 15 road projects and works; 2 air projects; 3 seaport projects; 3 railway projects.

Nghe An is gradually completing its modern transport infrastructure system. Photo: PV

Explaining the reason why the projects are having difficulty achieving their targets, Director of the Department of Transport Hoang Phu Hien said: The project was issued and implemented in a difficult and limited capital environment. Along with that, the demand for investment in the road traffic system in the province is large, especially in the midlands and mountainous areas. In addition to allocating resources to implement the projects in the project, the budget must also be allocated to projects outside the project to serve the needs of the people...

In addition, the call for investment in the transport sector in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) is limited, especially in the midlands and mountainous areas; seaport and railway infrastructure projects have large total investment while resource mobilization is limited,... Therefore, the above projects will not ensure resources to implement according to the objectives set out in the Project.

Director of the Department of Finance Nguyen Xuan Hai speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

The head of the provincial transport sector said that the total resource demand to complete unimplemented projects is VND90,629 billion, of which the central budget is VND32,245 billion and the local budget is VND236 billion.

Clearly define resource feasibility

Commenting on the results of the project implementation of the Transport sector, Director of the Department of Finance Nguyen Xuan Hai said: Currently, there are a number of unfinished projects and new investment projects that have not yet seen investment capital sources. He suggested that the Department of Transport should redefine the strategy for developing transport infrastructure as well as clearly identify the resources that must be accurate and feasible when developing and approving the project. The Department needs to further study and clarify the capital structure, capital balance (central, local, mobilizing other capital sources) as well as the ability to balance resources to continue implementing works and projects.

“Regarding solutions from now until 2020, the Department of Transport needs to focus on carefully reviewing specific capital sources at all levels of the central and provincial budgets; proactively working with central ministries and branches to mobilize capital sources as well as coordinating with departments and branches to synchronously participate in order to continue implementing projects,” said the head of the provincial Finance Department.

Perspective of Vinh airport upgrade and expansion project. Photo: Thanh Le

Concluding the meeting, the Provincial Party Secretary emphasized that transport infrastructure plays an important role, a driving force to attract investment and develop the province's socio-economic development. That requires the transport sector to develop a clear plan, with a long-term strategic vision for transport infrastructure development as well as clearly identify resources for each project.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh concluded at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

According to the Provincial Party Secretary, in developing transport infrastructure, transport connectivity must be strategic, with inter-regional and inter-provincial connectivity being the top priority. However, inter-district and inter-commune connectivity should not be ignored because it directly affects the lives of the people. Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh requested the transport sector to consider social and economic factors, consider the direction of maximum savings in investment, and at the same time focus on solving "bottlenecks" in site clearance.

"In the context of limited resources and the inability to invest in inter-district and inter-commune transport infrastructure in the entire province, the transport sector needs to coordinate with other sectors and localities to determine the order of priority criteria."

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh

In addition, the Provincial Party Secretary suggested that the Transport sector should pay attention to coordinating with relevant sectors to soon implement projects on upgrading and expanding Vinh International Airport, the railway system; Cua Lo Port, the expressway connecting Thanh Thuy to Vinh City,...