Proposal for World Bank to extend the time for Vinh Sub-urban project

(Baonghean.vn) - The entire Vinh Urban Development Sub-project still has 200 households that have not agreed to land acquisition and compensation. The World Bank (WB) representative requested Vinh City to focus on resolving problems in land acquisition and compensation and take more decisive measures to speed up the project's implementation on schedule.

The bridge project across Ke Gai River connecting Vinh City with Hung Nguyen District, part of the Vinh Sub-urban Project, is behind schedule due to problems with site clearance in Nam Phuc Long Hamlet, Hung Tay Commune, Hung Nguyen. Photo by Nguyen Nguyen

The Vinh Urban Development Sub-Project, funded by the World Bank, includes four components: Improving services and upgrading basic infrastructure; improving environmental sanitation; building urban bridges and roads and enhancing technical infrastructure capacity;

The project's total investment was adjusted to over 168.484 million USD, equivalent to 3,504 billion VND, of which the World Bank loan was 98 million USD and Vietnam's counterpart capital was 70.484 million USD.

Up to now, the World Bank loan has disbursed 49,722 million USD, reaching 60.7% of the total project capital; counterpart capital has provided 1,049/1,269 billion VND. Project implementation time is 86%.

Currently, the project has completed 7 packages and is implementing 6 construction packages including: Upgrading and renovating the North Canal, section 3; Quan Bau resettlement area; building a regulating lake; upgrading and renovating the ditch around Vinh Citadel; building Hung Tay - Vinh road; building the road connecting National Highway 46 and the road along Lam River.

World Bank representative working with Vinh City. Photo: Vo Huyen

At the meeting, after reviewing the implementation progress, disbursement status, counterpart funds, and project indicators, the World Bank representative assessed that the sub-project implementation time was almost over, but many bid packages were progressing very slowly.

The entire project still has 200 households that have not agreed to land acquisition and compensation. The World Bank representative requested Vinh City to focus on resolving problems in land acquisition and compensation and take more decisive measures to speed up the project implementation on schedule.

Accepting the recommendations of the working group, the leaders of Vinh City People's Committee committed to focus on drastic direction in the coming time, take measures to overcome difficulties and obstacles, and complete site clearance by June 30, 2017. At the same time, propose the World Bank to create conditions for extending the project implementation period and early disbursement of capital so that the city can speed up the project implementation progress.

Vo Huyen