Slow progress of the North-South Expressway project through Hung Nguyen: Is it because of land acquisition problems?

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Investment component projectNorth-South Expressway constructionThe Dien Chau - Bai Vot section is 49.3 km long. This is a project under the Project to build some sections of the North - South Expressway in the East, phase 2017-2020. This component project is invested by a consortium of investors: Hoa Hiep Company Limited, CIENCO4 Group Joint Stock Company, Nui Hong Investment Company Limited, Truong Son Construction Corporation, VINA 2 Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company. Project enterprise: Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company.

North-South Expressway intersection with National Highway 46. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

Among the localities from Dien Chau (Nghe An) to Bai Vot (Ha Tinh) where the project runs through, Hung Nguyen district is the locality with the largest area of ​​influence, with a length of 25.88 km. Here, the project passes through 11 communes and towns including: Hung Trung, Hung Yen Bac, Hung Yen Nam, Hung Tay, Hung Dao, town, Hung Thong, Hung Tan, Hung Nghia, Hung Thanh, Chau Nhan; affecting agricultural land: 20.8 km, residential land 5 km (24%). The total number of households affected by the project is 3,561 households and 10 organizations (People's Committees of communes). The total area of ​​land to be recovered is 1,822,653.8 m², of which: 73,989 m²residential land; 1,748,664.8 m²agricultural land; 7,094.8 m²other types of soil.

To implement the project, the local government has arranged and invested in the construction of 13 resettlement areas, with 322 plots of land, including: Hung Thanh commune 48 plots, Chau Nhan commune 3 plots, Hung Dao commune 45 plots, Hung Trung commune 39 plots, Hung Yen Nam commune 61 plots, Hung Tan commune 39 plots, Hung Nghia commune 87 plots. The locality has also allocated land to 157 resettled households. The households relocated 811 graves, of which 402 graves with owners and 409 unowned graves were relocated.

Many locations in the project have not yet completed weathering. Photo taken at Hung Tay commune. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

According to records and documents on the site handover work stored at a number of relevant agencies, since May 2021, the Site Clearance Council of Hung Nguyen district has coordinated with Project Management Board 6 - Ministry of Transport and the project enterprise, Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company, to carry out the site handover. Up to May 2022, the site handover work has been carried out by the parties 5 times and has been 100% completed.

This content was also mentioned by Project Management Board 6 in the report sent to the Department of Construction Investment Management (Ministry of Transport). Specifically, in the most recent report, dated May 25, 2023, Project Management Board 6 commented that "localities have handed over 100% of the site, onlysome problemsThe section passing through Hung Nguyen district is being considered for resolution…”.

BUSINESS PROPOSAL

On May 17, 2023, the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district and Project Management Board 6 - Ministry of Transport received a document from Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company requesting to resolve the site clearance problem of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot section investment and construction component project.

In many locations passing through Hung Yen Nam and Hung Tay communes, the "shape" of the expressway is only a public road. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

In this document, Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company informed that the project is stuck with the land clearance at the road leading to the underpass at Km453+206, Hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam Commune; Stuck with residential land of 8 households, rice fields and 2 graves in Dai Hue Hamlet, Hung Tay Commune (Scope of branch N6 - National Highway 46B Intersection); Clearance of the main route is about 3m wide from the foot of the slope at the section (Km458+700 - Km459+500), corresponding to 847.46m², Phuc Dien hamlet, Hung Tay commune; 480m long²Sandbank land, Mr. Hoang's factory, route Km463+416,175 in hamlet 6, Hung Dao commune; Obstacles in the clearance of the service road through the residential land of 3 households, route Km463+720 - Km464+400 in hamlet 7, Hung Dao commune; Land clearance is lacking for the residential service road 1A, route Km467+945,74 - Km468+410,69 in Hung Tan commune; Obstacles in the clearance of service road No. 4 (left of the route) through Mrs. Huong's house, route Km471+350 in hamlet 1, Chau Nhan commune; Obstacles in the clearance of service road No. 5 (left of the route) through Mr. Chien's house (Mrs. Xuan), route Km471+500 in hamlet 1, Chau Nhan commune; The main route through Mr. Chin's field is stuck, the route is Km427+600 - Km472+650 because the field land has not been compensated in Phu Hung hamlet, Hung Thanh commune; Some new locations are stuck: the culvert heads have changed their route due to switching from diagonal to straight culverts at locations Km460+203, Km460+680, Km461+122, Km461+324, Km463+534, Km466+300, Km466+590, Km467+279, Km467+940.

Regarding technical infrastructure, Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company said that as of May 17, 2023, there were still 4/73 power lines that had not been relocated, including 1 110KV high-voltage power line location (1 location North of National Highway 46B at Km460+060, Hung Tay commune); 3 low-voltage and medium-voltage power lines locations (at locations Km455+425, power lines to the Hung Tay Commune Recycling Plant and Km463+400 - Km463+600, Hung Dao commune). Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company affirmed: "The delay in site clearance at the above locations will affect the overall construction progress of the project".

There are few motor vehicles operating (Photo taken on May 29, 2023). Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

“THE PROBLEM DOES NOT AFFECT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAIN LINE”

To verify the problems that led to "affecting the construction progress" as stated by the Phuc Thanh Hung project enterprise, on May 26 and 27, 2023, we conducted a field survey, grasping the opinions of the people as well as the local authorities. On the side of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district, there was also an explanatory report sent to the Provincial People's Committee and Project Management Board 6.

Regarding the problem of the access road to the underpass at KM453+206, Hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam Commune: The access road to the underpass passes through a part of the land of Mr. Nguyen Van Cong's household. The site clearance work has been completed, and Mr. Cong's family has also been granted a new Certificate of Land Use Rights (issued on May 8, 2023). However, the people of Hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam Commune prevented the construction of the underpass because they believed that the design was not suitable for the traffic infrastructure conditions, and the underpass surface was 1.2 - 1.6m lower than the current road surface.

The tunnel through Hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam Commune is designed to be 1.2 - 1.6m lower than the current road. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

This is the only route connecting the commune center to hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam commune and hamlet 5, Hung Yen Bac commune; during the rainy season, this area is often deeply flooded and isolated. In response to this incident, the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district issued Official Dispatch No. 183/UBND-KTHT dated February 14, 2023 to Project Management Board 6 and Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company for inspection and handling; on May 10, 2023, Project Management Board 6 and Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company inspected the scene but have not yet agreed on a solution.

Regarding the issue of land for 8 households and 2 graves in Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune (within the scope of branch N6 - National Highway 46B intersection), on April 13, 2023, Project Management Board 6, Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company and the District Land Clearance Council organized a field inspection and agreed to consider adjusting the land clearance milestone to limit the impact on the land of households. For 2 graves, people have exhumed them.

Officials of the Land Acquisition Board of Hung Nguyen district informed about the project's land issue with 8 households in Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune (within the scope of branch N6 - National Highway 46B intersection). Photo taken at the location of the branch road N6 to the highway on May 26, 2023. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

One of the two graves at the N6 branch road, Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune has been moved by the people but construction activities have not "touched" the place. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

Regarding the issue of site clearance for the main route lacking a width of about 3m from the slope to the location Km 458+700 - Km 459+500 (equivalent to 847.46m2), in Phuc Dien hamlet, Hung Tay commune, the Site Clearance Council of Hung Nguyen district affirmed that due to design changes, the investor handed over the site clearance milestone late, until February 28, 2023. However, with the urgent participation of the district and commune, the people have now agreed to let the unit carry out site leveling construction.

Civil culvert section through hamlet 4, Hung Yen Nam commune. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

About the 480m problem²Sandbank land, Mr. Hoang's factory at Km463+416.175, in hamlet 6, Hung Dao commune, the affected area on the extract, measured according to the land clearance milestone handed over by the investor is 286m2²belong to phase 2 of the project (not 480m)²as reported by the enterprise). Regarding this content, the Land Clearance Council said that it was due to an area error during the process of extracting and measuring, so it had to be adjusted, and a file had been prepared to strive to complete before May 31, 2023. At the same time, it affirmed that the area stated by the enterprise does not affect phase 1 of the project; at this location, the enterprise has not yet started construction.

North-South Expressway project through Hung Dao commune. The location is still intact, not yet weathered. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

Regarding the problem of the access road through the residential land of 3 households at the route (Km463+720-Km464+400), hamlet 7, Hung Dao commune, the site clearance has been completed for 1 household, the remaining 2 households, the Site Clearance Council is taking steps to complete before June 15, 2023. Regarding the site clearance for the lack of access road 1A at the route (Km 467+945.74 - Km 468+410.69), Hung Tan commune, this is an additional access road, the site clearance milestone will be handed over on March 27, 2023. The Site Clearance Council is preparing the site clearance dossier, to be completed before June 10, 2023; the affected people have also agreed to start construction first, but the construction unit has not yet started.

A project location in Hung Yen Nam commune on May 26, 2023, has just undergone weathering stripping. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

On the service route No. 4 (left route) through Mrs. Huong's house, route Km 471+350, hamlet 1, Chau Nhan commune, affected area 291m², The Land Clearance Council is carrying out the process of granting land for resettlement, expected to be completed before June 10, 2023. Regarding the problem on the frontage road No. 5 (left-of-route) passing Mr. Chien's (Ms. Xuan's) house, at Km471+350, Hamlet 1, Chau Nhan Commune, the affected area is 50m², the household has received money, the construction unit has leveled the ground and transported materials on this route.

Regarding the problem of the main route through Mr. Chin's field, route Km 472+600 - Km 472+650, due to the field land not being compensated, Phu Thanh hamlet, Hung Thanh commune, the entire site has been handed over and the contractor has also started construction. On May 24, 2023, the working group established by the District People's Committee worked with Mr. Chin and the parties agreed on a solution.

Regarding the problems in some of the arising site locations that Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company mentioned, it was due to the adjustment of the design documents from diagonal sewers to straight sewers. On March 13, 2023, the investor handed over the site clearance milestone. Currently, the Site Clearance Council is completing the documents.

North-South Expressway project through Hung Tay commune. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

Related 4/73power lines not relocated, The Land Clearance Council of Hung Nguyen district said that for the medium voltage power line to the Hung Tay Commune Recycling Factory at Km455+425, the relevant parties have agreed to bury the line in parallel with the construction process of handling the weak ground of the project. After handling the weak ground, the District People's Committee will direct the contractor to construct the power line according to the agreed content.

For the two low-voltage power lines in Hung Dao commune, located close to the residential road, the Land Clearance Council is preparing a relocation dossier. Because the low-voltage power lines are covered wires, the local government also requested Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company to coordinate with the Land Clearance Council to temporarily relocate them during the construction process so as not to affect the project's progress.

At the location of the 110KV high voltage power line (Hung Tay commune), affected households have basically agreed on a resettlement plan. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

Regarding the 110KV high-voltage power line location (Hung Tay commune), the affected households have basically agreed on the resettlement plan. For the only household still having problems (Mr. Bien Van Hai's household, Dai Hue hamlet), the District People's Committee has issued Official Dispatch No. 682/UBND.GPMB dated April 13, 2023 regarding the request for site clearance to implement the expressway construction project, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a document guiding the implementation. Currently, the District People's Committee has assigned departments and offices to review and strive to complete before June 15, 2023.

According to the representative of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district: "The above-mentioned problems basically do not affect the construction of the main route. Moreover, these problems are also being focused on being resolved. In the report sent to the Provincial People's Committee, Hung Nguyen district also requested that Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company actively coordinate with the District Land Clearance Council to work with the people and thoroughly resolve these issues...".

QUESTIONS ABOUT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION CAPACITY

Observations of the construction work, as well as the locations reported to have problems in the North-South Expressway project through Hung Nguyen district by a group of reporters from Nghe An Newspaper, show that the site clearance work has basically been carried out synchronously and seriously. The entire main route of the project is smooth.

North-South Expressway at the intersection with National Highway 46. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

The problems that the project enterprise has reflected and proposed as mentioned above are mainly located on the service roads and branch roads of the project; they almost do not affect or hinder the contractor's construction. The request of the people of hamlets 4 and 5, Hung Yen Nam commune as well as the local authorities for the investor and project enterprise to adjust the design of the tunnel through the residential area is completely reasonable and needs to be considered.

In fact, the construction of the project section through Hung Nguyen district is currently progressing very slowly. Many locations on the route will not have the project enterprise carry out the first stage of construction until May 26, 2023, which is stripping weathering and removing weak soil; some project locations are still virgin agricultural land without any construction activities. In many other locations where construction is underway, vehicles, machines and other types of motor vehicles are limited in number. Therefore, in many areas where the project passes through, the main highway route has not yet been formed. This makes officials and people in Hung Nguyen district question the capacity of the investor and project enterprise.

This is the location where the project company is conducting weathering. Photo taken at noon on May 27 in Hung Tay commune. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan

In a recent report sent by Project Management Board 6 to the Department of Construction Investment Management (Ministry of Transport), it was also confirmed that the project was behind schedule. The specific reasons were: “From the beginning of 2023 until now, contractors have not resolutely mobilized additional equipment, human resources, and increased construction sites to compensate for the delayed progress, lacking at least 6 construction sites as required by the adjusted schedule; Contractors continue to fail to promptly arrange enough capital to meet the construction progress, leading to lack of initiative in material sources (especially sand and embankment); The acceptance and payment work is slow because contractors and project enterprises have not concentrated human resources and have not resolutely directed the implementation (the unfinished value is about 500 billion VND).

Not only that, in this report, Project Management Board 6 also informed: “According to the overall progress of the BOT contract signed between the Ministry of Transport and the consortium of investors and project enterprises, the construction of the roadbed and service roads must be completed before February 28, 2023. However, currently, the construction volume of weak soil treatment has only reached 19.73/20.12 km (98.06%), the service road has 0.6/50 km unfinished; Bridges over canals, rivers, and small streams must be completed before February 23, 2023. Currently, 3/12 bridges have not been constructed (Hung Yen Nam, Hung Tay and Song Dao 3)…”.

The main route of the North-South expressway project through Hung Nguyen district has been cleared. Photo: Thanh Thanh Nhat Tuan