Resolving difficulties in implementing the Eastern North-South Expressway Project
(Baonghean.vn) - Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh requested that localities need to be more determined in resolving difficulties to provide enough materials for the North-South Expressway Project, avoiding the current situation of "eating only" materials.
On the afternoon of September 14, under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, the Government held an online conference to deploy component projects on the Eastern North-South Expressway.
On Nghe An side, there was comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, together with representatives of relevant departments, branches and 6 districts where the expressway passes through: Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen.
Project to build some road sectionsNorth-South expresswayThe Eastern region, phase 2017 - 2020 includes 11 component projects, including 8 public investment projects and 3 investment projects under the public-private partnership method.
Currently, construction has started on 10 component projects with an output of about VND 8,933.38 billion out of VND 35,602.19 billion in total value of construction contracts.
 |
| Panoramic view of the conference at Nghe An bridgehead. Photo: Tien Dong |
Up to this point, the workGPMB of component projectshas been basically completed, handing over 642.4 km (reaching 98.4%), with a total recovered area of 4,906.57 ha/total 4,990.64 ha needing clearance. 28,673 out of 29,183 affected households have received compensation.
In addition, localities have also built 74/83 new resettlement areas (not including 28 existing resettlement areas); completed the relocation of 363/733 power lines, 22,099/40,232m of water pipes of all kinds, 53,825/91,828m of telecommunication cables. Currently, the disbursement for site clearance work has been 11,833.66 billion VND. Since the beginning of 2021, 1,067.58 billion VND of the capital plan has been disbursed.
 |
| The North-South Expressway is a key national project, playing a very important role in the country's development. Illustrative photo |
At the conference, representatives of localities and project management boards also made recommendations that need to be resolved, especially the issue of land acquisition and clearance. Currently, there are about 10.5 km of land that cannot be handed over due to lawsuits, land disputes, and complaints from people about compensation prices. There are even cases where people have received money but have re-encroached and do not agree to hand over the land...
Although the Government has issued Resolution No. 60/NQ-CP dated June 16, 2021 on the application of a special mechanism in licensing the exploitation of minerals for common construction materials to supply to the Project, many localities are still lacking in roadbed materials to serve the construction of the Project. There are even component projects that have already started construction but there is no land to fill the roadbed...
Recently, due to the high price of iron and steel materials, sand and gravel, the investment value has been inflated. The impact ofCovid-19 pandemicThis has led to difficulties in mobilizing human resources, materials, equipment, transporting materials, gasoline, and spare parts for special equipment damaged during construction. Some projects have had staff and workers infected with Covid-19, forcing them to be completely locked down and quarantined, leading to delays in construction progress.
Not to mention that currently, mobilizing credit capital for projects under the public-private partnership method is facing difficulties when banks require the Project to apply revenue sharing terms before agreeing to finance capital.
 |
| Simulation model of the expressway project, Dien Chau - Bai Vot section. Photo courtesy of BNA |
In Nghe An, the North-South Expressway Project in the East passing through the province is divided into 2 types of investment. SectionNghi Son - Dien Chau(50 km long), implemented under the form of public investment; Dien Chau - Bai Vot section (49.3 km long), implemented under the form of public-private partnership.
Currently, localities have also approved 2,392,671 billion VND in compensation plans, with 82.51/87.84 km of land cleared, the remaining 5.33 km has not been cleared because households have not reached an agreement, and are petitioning on land prices at the departure and destination locations, so money has not been received. Nghe An province has also built 26/27 resettlement sites, of which 22 areas have been basically completed for handover to households.
According to the representative of Nghe An Department of Transport, 2 component projects through Nghe An need 13.5 million m3embankment; 2.68 million m3rock; 3,026 million m3sand and gravel. Currently, Nghe An has 40 licensed mines for mineral activities, of which 14 are in operation, with reserves of about 21.515 million m3; 26 mines are licensed for exploration with estimated reserves of about 35 million m3There are 75 construction stone quarries with reserves of about 93,313 million m3and 59 construction sand and gravel mines with reserves of about 21,165 million m3.
 |
| Groundbreaking ceremony of the North-South Expressway project, Dien Chau - Bai Vot section. Photo: Tien Dong |
Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh requested localities, management boards, and contractors to determine their responsibilities in finding material sources for the Project.
The Deputy Prime Minister also requested that the parties need to coordinate smoothly to soon grant and complete licensing procedures, increase the capacity of material mines serving the construction of the highway. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure absolute safety, environmental safety, and labor safety at these construction material mines.
It is necessary to speed up the site clearance progress, ensuring completion in October 2021 to hand over to contractors. In particular, the Deputy Prime Minister also requested localities to prioritize Covid-19 vaccination for officials and workers constructing North-South Expressway component projects in the provinces, and at the same time direct investors and project management boards to strictly implement regulations and rules on Covid-19 prevention and control, ensuring progress and quality requirements for the project.
