Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee decided to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street

Ho Tong Thoc Street connecting Nguyen Trai Street to Truong Van Linh Street is currently blocked.

The working session was co-chaired by comrades: Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Le Sy Chien.Attending the meeting were leaders of the Departments of Construction, Transport, Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Finance, Health, Provincial Police, Provincial People's Committee Office; representatives of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Propaganda Department, Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Department; leaders of Vinh City People's Committee, Nghi Phu Commune; hamlet chiefs and representatives of relevant residential areas; Director of the Urban Construction and Economic Development Project Management Board, Director of Nghe An General Hospital and Director of Nghe An General Hospital Joint Stock Company.

Panorama of the working session to resolve the petitions of Nghi Phu commune residents regarding the closure of Ho Tong Thoc road. Photo: Nhat Lan

Raising the issue for the working session, according to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong, recently, there have been more than 100 households in Nghi Phu commune who have submitted a petition to the Provincial People's Committee requesting consideration of reopening Ho Tong Thoc Street.

To resolve this issue, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Vinh City People's Committee to coordinate with relevant departments, branches and Nghi Phu commune to organize a dialogue on September 11, 2018 to clarify the petition contents. Based on the results of the dialogue, the Provincial People's Committee organized a working session to completely resolve the petition contents of the people.

The end of Ho Tong Thoc Street leading to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Avenue was closed due to the implementation of the hospital project. Photo by Nhat Lan.

Reporting on the dialogue on September 11, Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Le Sy Chien reiterated the recommendations of Nghi Phu commune residents, including: Ho Tong Thoc Street has a long history, creating favorable travel conditions for people and agencies (Psychiatric Hospital, Vietnam - Korea Technical Vocational College...), why was the road closed, cut into 3 sections, which level approved the road closure?

Why didn't they consult with the people before closing the road? Why did they wait until the construction of the second phase of the Provincial General Hospital was almost completed before organizing a dialogue to reach an agreement with the people?

The initial announcement was to close the road for site clearance and construction safety; why now build a hospital on the road and close it completely?

Is the second phase hospital a private hospital? Why was the land on Ho Tong Thoc Street confiscated to build a private hospital? This is a manifestation of vested interests.

People propose to demolish the construction to reopen Ho Tong Thoc street…

Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Le Sy Chien informed about the dialogue on September 11, 2018. Photo: Nhat Lan.

In response to the people's petitions, on September 11, Vinh City People's Committee and relevant agencies provided answers to the planning issues of Nghi Phu commune and the planning of the Provincial General Hospital project to address the closure of Ho Tong Thoc Street.

According to the detailed planning of Nghi Phu commune in 2003, Ho Tong Thoc road no longer plays the role of an inter-regional road, instead it is a planned road 24m wide, connected to a canal with a total cross-section of 80m wide. Therefore, the last section of Ho Tong Thoc road is included in the hospital planning; the remaining part plays an intra-regional role. The new rural planning of Nghi Phu commune and the draft detailed planning of Nghi Phu commune currently being implemented also maintain the status quo of the 2003 planning.

Regarding the Nghe An General Friendship Hospital Project Phase 2, this is a key project of the province, with the goal of making the province's healthcare the center of the North Central region, better serving the people's medical examination and treatment needs, striving to make Nghe An a fairly developed province as per Resolution No. 26 of the Politburo. This project was approved in principle by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee in Conclusion Notice No. 940 - TB/TU dated November 25, 2013; the Provincial People's Committee approved the project in Decision No. 5196/QD-UBND.CNTM dated November 6, 2015. The project is invested in a socialized model according to Decree 69/ND-CP of the Government...

The last section of Ho Tong Thoc Street connecting to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Avenue has been blocked to implement the hospital project. Photo: Nhat Lan

Therefore, land recovery and land handover for project implementation must be carried out in accordance with the planning and investment project approved by competent authorities.

However, to ensure the convenience of people in traveling, it is necessary to invest in road construction according to the plan. But due to budget difficulties, the investment in road construction according to the plan has not been implemented, leading to difficulties for people in the area because they have to take a different route, which is further than before.

From this reality, Vinh City People's Committee proposed 3 options: First, build a 24m road according to the planning south of the hospital from Nguyen Trai Street to Truong Van Linh Street or only build a 24m road west of the hospital to Truong Van Linh Street. Second, similar to option 1, only open the road south of the hospital but only to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street. Third, reopen the road through the two hospitals phase 1 and phase 2 with a width of 15m, equal to Ho Tong Thoc Street.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong inspected the detailed planning of Nghi Phu commune in 2003 and asked representatives of residential areas of Nghi Phu commune to express their opinions. Photo: Nhat Lan.

After listening to the report of Vinh City People's Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong asked representatives of residential areas, the Party Committee, Nghi Phu Commune People's Committee and departments and branches to give their opinions.

In particular, it is noted that the departments and branches need to clarify further the planning related to Ho Tong Thoc road; check whether the planning has been made public according to the provisions of law or not? Consider whether the closure of Ho Tong Thoc road complies with the planning approved by the competent authority or not?

At the same time, clarify the investor's investment in the hospital project and participation in the charter capital of the Provincial General Hospital of Friendship...

Village chief of hamlet 15, Nghi Phu commune, Mr. Vo Ba Chau speaks. Photo: Nhat Lan.

Representing the households of Hamlet 15, Hamlet Chief Vo Ba Chau said that the closure of Ho Tong Thoc Street greatly affected the lives of the people in the area, thus giving rise to many concerns and frustrations. After the province, city and departments explained and published relevant documents, the officials and people of Hamlet 15 understood the reasons and causes of the road closure. However, they still wanted the province to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street to create favorable conditions for the people. Mr. Chau said: "I request the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches to consider reopening Ho Tong Thoc Street. This is also one of the options that Vinh City People's Committee has proposed to report to the Provincial People's Committee...".

Speaking at the meeting, Nghi Phu Commune Party Secretary Tran Ngoc Chi affirmed that the planning related to closing Ho Tong Thoc Street in 2003 had been made public to all the hamlets of Nghi Phu Commune. However, people only care when it affects their interests. Therefore, when closing Ho Tong Thoc Street, people had opinions and concerns.

Nghi Phu Commune Party Secretary Tran Ngoc Chi speaks at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan.

Participating in the resolution of the petition, according to Mr. Chi, the reopening of Ho Tong Thoc Street to ensure convenient traffic also has difficulties, because the hospital project has been built, while the reopening of the street also requires sidewalks, auxiliary systems... there are many vehicles and people participating in traffic on this route. Therefore, it is recommended that the departments, branches and the Provincial People's Committee consider it carefully.

At the meeting, Director of the Department of Construction Hoang Trong Kim provided further information on planning issues. Thereby, he affirmed that the detailed planning of the Provincial General Hospital was approved by the competent authority in 2004, while the detailed planning of Nghi Phu commune was approved in 2003; the approval of the planning by the competent authority is consistent.

However, the closure of Ho Tong Thoc road according to the detailed planning of Nghi Phu commune in 2003 has not received the consensus of the people. The reason is partly due to the fact that the investment in the construction of alternative roads to Ho Tong Thoc road, to facilitate people according to the approved planning, was not timely.

Mr. Hoang Trong Kim agreed with the proposal of Vinh City People's Committee in option 3, which is to adjust the hospital's planning and reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street. He proposed that the Provincial People's Committee assign the Provincial General Hospital to adjust the planning and conduct research to connect the activities of Areas A and B of the hospital in phase 2 to ensure traffic safety and urban beauty.

According to Director of Provincial General Hospital Nguyen Van Huong, if the planning is implemented, the 24m road will be opened, ensuring convenience for the hospital and still ensuring the people's travel. Mr. Huong hopes that the people of Nghi Phu commune will share with the Provincial General Hospital. Because if Ho Tong Thoc road is reopened, it will greatly affect the hospital's operations, especially the issue of security and order. However, there are opinions that if the Provincial People's Committee decides to reopen the connecting road between the two hospitals, the Provincial General Hospital will comply.

The investor representative, Mr. Trinh Xuan Ha - General Director of Nghe An General Hospital Joint Stock Company, said that the investment in Nghe An was after participating in 3 investment promotion conferences organized by the Provincial People's Committee. Before implementing the project, the investor reviewed the planning and found it very clear and distinct. During the project implementation, despite many difficulties, the investor was still determined to ensure the project's progress.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Ha - General Director of Nghe An General Hospital Friendship Joint Stock Company spoke at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan.

Regarding the people's petition, Mr. Trinh Xuan Ha stated his opinion: "Investors need the consensus not only of the government, departments and branches but also of the local people. We can only operate smoothly when we have the consensus and love of the local people." Therefore, investors are willing to listen to the solutions proposed by the government and departments and cooperate.

According to the representative of the Department of Planning and Investment, the investor in the project investment is attracted at the Provincial Investment Promotion Conference. In the past time, the investor has been enthusiastic and determined to invest as signed. The Provincial General Hospital also contributed capital with the investor with a total amount of 104 billion VND, accounting for 40% of the charter capital. The form of capital contribution is geographical location advantage, brand value, investment value of common infrastructure works and compensation value, site clearance. Thereby, refuting the information that there are signs of group interests.

According to the Provincial Police Director, Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau: "It is necessary to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street soon to facilitate people's travel." Photo: Nhat Lan

Attending the meeting, Director of the Provincial Police Nguyen Huu Cau informed that regarding the closure of Ho Tong Thoc Street leading to the petition of Nghi Phu Commune people, the Provincial Police have proactively grasped all related issues. Therefore, the Provincial Police proposed to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street. The reason is: Ho Tong Thoc Street is public property, the road has a long history, deeply rooted in the people's thoughts and feelings; reopening the road is the wish of the people, thereby ensuring the interests of the people, while also protecting the property of the state; at the present time, there is still an opportunity to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street because there is still land fund...

Also at the meeting, representatives of the Department of Transport, Health, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment agreed to reopen Ho Tong Thoc Street to ensure travel for people. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong also affirmed that the people's wishes are completely legitimate; the implementation of any project is to serve the interests of the people.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong speaks at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan.

According to Mr. Kha Van Tam, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the issue of closing Ho Tong Thoc Street has created concerns and frustrations among the people of Nghi Phu Commune and Vinh City. Some central press agencies and the public have paid attention and posted information on newspapers and social networks. There are some opinions that the project has not paid attention to the interests of the people; and raised the question of whether there are group interests or not?

Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department Kha Van Tam: Paying attention to people's interests is the number one issue. Photo: Nhat Lan.

To effectively handle this issue, it is necessary to consider the interests of the people as the number one issue; in which, consider the proposals of departments and branches on reopening Ho Tong Thoc Street. After the meeting, there must be a clear conclusion. The contents that have been implemented correctly, such as planning issues, the province's investment attraction policy, etc., need to be clearly affirmed. The things that have not been done, must also be specifically stated, and a clear and transparent solution is proposed. It is recommended that the press pay attention and fully understand the information to reflect objectively and honestly. Thereby, the whole society understands the project, the reasons and causes leading to the closure and opening of Ho Tong Thoc Street.

Concluding the meeting, according to Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong, the working session clarified planning issues related to related roads in Nghi Phu commune and the planning of the Provincial General Hospital, in addition to the investment in project implementation. However, due to the fact that the planned roads have not been implemented but Ho Tong Thoc road has been closed to implement the project, it has affected people's travel.

Receiving opinions from the people and the Party Committee and the government of Nghi Phu commune, based on the three options proposed by the Vinh City People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee found that the first two options cannot be implemented in the near future due to financial difficulties and time-consuming. Therefore, these two options are reserved for implementation at an appropriate time.

Regarding the third option, reopening Ho Tong Thoc Street between the two hospitals has received high approval from the departments and the two hospitals; moreover, this is also the wish of the people. Therefore, speed up the progress of reopening Ho Tong Thoc Street to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Avenue. In addition, assign Vinh City People's Committee and departments to promote investment in building the 24m road according to the plan in the coming time.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong concluded the working session. Photo: Nhat Lan.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Provincial General Hospital to coordinate with the Phase 2 Hospital to adjust the planning within the two hospitals; assigned the General Hospital Joint Stock Company to survey, make a design, submit to the competent authority for approval and initially use the company's funds to build the road. The reopening of the road must ensure the width for two lanes of motor vehicles, ensuring the traffic of people. Strive to complete in the first quarter of 2019.

Requesting departments and branches to review and grant land use rights to the two hospitals; the two hospitals need to coordinate to resolve land-related issues; assigning Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong to monitor the implementation of the concluded contents.

The conclusion of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong received high consensus from representatives of residential areas of Nghi Phu commune and the consensus of the leaders of the two hospitals. To implement the conclusion, the leaders of the two hospitals requested the Department of Construction, Transport... to support issues of planning adjustment, technical design to rebuild Ho Tong Thoc road.