Do Luong district has met the transportation criteria for a new rural district.

Synchronized involvement

For many years, the main road in Quang Son commune, Do Luong district, has shown signs of deterioration, causing difficulties for residents in traffic, communication, and trade. As part of the new rural development program, by mid-November 2022, the commune's main road had been upgraded, and a comprehensive drainage system had been rebuilt, connecting it with the main roads of Thai Son, Tan Son, and Thuong Son communes. This improvement in transportation infrastructure has encouraged residents to contribute to economic development and actively participate in fulfilling the criteria for a new rural commune.

Residents of Quang Son commune (Do Luong district) contribute their labor to build new rural roads. Photo: Hoai Thu

Similarly, Tan Son commune has also basically completed the conditions to be recognized as an advanced new rural commune.

According to Mr. Tran Nhu Y, Chairman of the Tan Son Commune People's Committee, as of October 2022, Tan Son commune had commenced construction on 11 projects with a total investment of over 10.58 billion VND, including: Concrete roads leading to cemeteries; Guard houses, parking lots, and police offices; Functional buildings at Kim Dong Secondary School; Concrete canals from Hamlet 1 to Hamlet 3; Concrete canals from Hamlet 4 to Hamlet 5; Construction of the second road in the craft village of Hamlet 6; Sidewalks at the commune's stadium; Concrete canal in Hamlet 3; Upgrading the Commune People's Committee office; and Construction of 31 concrete roads with a total length of 2,043m using the district's support mechanism of 300 tons of cement.

The commune has also started construction of an 18m road from National Highway 7B and 7C, with the district as the investor… “To date, Tan Son commune has completed the dossier and submitted it to higher authorities for appraisal and approval to recognize the commune as meeting the standards of advanced new rural development,” Mr. Tran Nhu Y said.

Mr. Tran Van Hien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Do Luong District, shared that in order to fulfill the conditions and criteria of the new rural district program issued in 2022, the entire political system in Do Luong District has actively and diligently worked for a long time. In particular, Party committees, government agencies, and socio-political organizations have consistently focused on directing and implementing the program, receiving widespread support from all sectors of the population. As a result, many outstanding achievements have been made, such as: Essential infrastructure has been strengthened through investment towards standardization and modernization; the fields of culture, education, health, and environment have seen significant and positive changes; and the material and spiritual lives of the people have improved noticeably.

As of November 2022, Do Luong district had mobilized over 5.5 trillion VND in capital; of which, the State budget accounted for 2,033 billion VND, or 36.88%; the Central budget accounted for 132 billion VND; the provincial budget accounted for 1,191 billion VND; and the district budget accounted for 237 billion VND for new rural development. Notably, the people contributed 1,253 billion VND, accounting for 22.74%. This included 1,080 billion VND in cash and 55 billion VND in contributions in the form of labor and land donations.

A view of Do Luong district town. Photo courtesy of the archives.

The people's contributions mainly came from labor, land donations, and readily available supplies and materials. Over 10 years, people throughout the district donated 1,286,408 m² of land.² Land and nearly 500,000 man-days were invested in building rural roads, internal field roads, implementing land consolidation and exchange, and constructing and repairing village cultural centers.

Building essential infrastructure

According to the leaders of Do Luong district, in 2010, the total length of commune roads was 225.86 km; 102.02 km had been asphalted or concreted to standard, reaching a rate of 45.17%. The main commune and inter-commune roads in the district basically only met the minimum roadbed width of 5.0m and the minimum road surface width of 3.0m. By November 2022, the total length of commune roads, 288.60 km, had been asphalted or concreted to standard, reaching 100%, an increase of 54.83% compared to 2010. The main commune and inter-commune roads in the district met the minimum roadbed width of 6.5m and the minimum road surface width of 3.5m, ensuring convenient year-round vehicle access.

“To date, all 32 communes in Do Luong district have met 100% of the transportation criteria requirements according to Decision No. 318/QD-TTg dated March 8, 2022, of the Prime Minister and Decision No. 1563/QD-UBND dated June 7, 2022, of the People's Committee of Nghe An province. Currently, all 32 communes in Do Luong district have been recognized as achieving new rural standards. Along with other criteria, Do Luong is completing the dossier to submit to relevant levels and sectors for appraisal and recognition as a district achieving new rural standards,” said Mr. Tran Van Hien.