Transport creates an important foundation to promote socio-economic development.

Developing synchronous transport infrastructure

Despite the limited budget resources and tightening of public investment, Nghe An Transport Department has had creative ways and flexibly applied mechanisms and policies to attract investment resources for infrastructure. Among them, many projects have been completed and put into use such as: Yen Xuan Bridge connecting the two banks of Lam River, connecting Nghe An - Ha Tinh provinces, eliminating the isolation of road traffic in the Southwest of Nghe An and Northwest of Ha Tinh province.

Provincial leaders inspect the construction of Vinh-Cua Lo Avenue. Photo: Phu Huong

Putting into operation the project to upgrade National Highway 48 and National Highway 15A through Truong Bon relic site; the western service road of National Highway 1A, Quan Hanh - Quan Banh section; Dai Hue mountain eco-tourism road; the project to build the Western Nghe An route has been completed, opened to traffic, connecting with National Highway 7, National Highway 48, Ho Chi Minh road to form a synchronous traffic network, contributing to maintaining the national defense and security posture, promoting socio-economic development in the Western region.

At the same time, the industry has attracted capital from the Central and local governments to implement important projects connecting N5 Road of the Southeast Economic Zone to Hoa Son Commune, Do Luong District; the overpass system at the intersection of National Highway 48E with National Highway 1 and the North-South Railway.

The Department of Transport actively advised the Provincial People's Committee to work with the Government, ministries and central branches to arrange capital sources to soon implement traffic projects connecting Vinh - Cua Lo (phase 1, currently implementing construction of roadbed, road surface and works on the route, expected to open to traffic in 2018); is implementing construction of Muong Xen - Ta Do - Khe Kien road.

North-South Expressway section Nghi Son - Vinh: Project invested by PMU 6, currently preparing a feasibility study report. Expressway connecting Thanh Thuy - Pacxan Border Gate: Project invested by PMU 85, currently preparing a pre-feasibility study report; Nghi Son - Cua Hoi coastal road, currently the Department of Transport is implementing investment procedures for the project section from National Highway 46 (Cua Lo) to Provincial Road 535 (Cua Hoi), expected to start construction in 2018.

Route N5 connects the economic zones of Western Nghe An with the Southeast Economic Zone to Cua Lo International Port Cluster. Photo by Thanh Cuong

One of the great successes of the transport sector in implementing Resolution 26 of the Politburo and the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress is that the sector advised the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Ministry of Transport for approval to transfer a number of local roads (with a total length of 733.45 km) to National Highways; advised the Provincial People's Committee to transfer a number of district roads (with a total length of 549.4 km) to provincial roads.

In particular, the Department of Construction Staff submitted to the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council to issue Resolution 56 on clearing road traffic safety corridors. Storm and flood recovery work was directed promptly, ensuring smooth traffic.

Along with key projects, the rural transport system has received investment and construction attention. Results from 2016 to June 2018: Investment in construction, maintenance and repair of about 1,979 km of roads. Regarding the system of people's bridges, 12 bridges have been completed, handed over and put into operation; 32 bridges have been basically completed; procedures are being completed to prepare for the deployment of 34 bridges in 2018 and 33 bridges in 2019.

Checking the construction of the D4 railway overpass in Quan Hanh town, Nghi Loc district. Photo: Thanh Le

In addition, the Transport sector has coordinated to implement other important projects such as: Completion and handover of DKC Petroleum Port, Vissai Port, etc.

The above projects have enhanced traffic connectivity, significantly contributing to promoting economic development, enhancing competitiveness, regional connectivity, and creating a driving force for comprehensive development in the province.

Building a synchronous infrastructure is one of the five breakthroughs to create rapid and sustainable socio-economic development for the province. That is the goal set forth in Resolution 26 of the Politburo and the Resolution of the 18th Nghe An Provincial Party Congress.

To successfully achieve that goal, according to Mr. Nguyen Hong Ky - Director of the Department of Transport: "In the coming time, we will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to call for, attract, and integrate capital sources; work with ministries and central branches to pay attention to supporting and investing in developing transport infrastructure in the area, especially key projects that have spillover effects and create momentum for local socio-economic development. At the same time, the industry will improve the management of construction quality throughout the project implementation process from the investment preparation stage, investment implementation, to exploitation and use of works...".

Breakthrough in driving license issuance and renewal

Along with the development of infrastructure, during the past term, Nghe An Transport sector has also made great strides in the field of transportation. Newly invested infrastructure, vehicles, and licensed routes have made it easier for people to travel and exchange goods.

National Highway 48E through Nghia Dan district is being upgraded. Photo by Thanh Le

The Department has completed and handed over two first-class bus stations, namely Bac Vinh Bus Station and Mien Trung Bus Station, bringing the total number of operating bus stations to 16. All vehicles participating in transportation are issued with badges, route monitoring, logbooks, and implementation of plans, frequencies, and operating charts on the route to ensure regulations. The quality of transportation has been gradually improved, and old, outdated vehicles have been replaced.

The industry also coordinates the development of air and waterway transport, enhancing new transport capacity. Vinh Airport has been invested in and upgraded to become an international airport; air transport has continuously increased flights and opened new routes. The seaport system, with investment in upgrading Cua Lo Port, has lifting and unloading facilities that allow transport ships of 10,000 tons or more to enter and exit the port, thereby increasing the volume of goods passing through the port every year.

The Department of Transport has implemented many solutions, creating a breakthrough in the country in training, testing and granting driving licenses, resolving issues quickly and conveniently for people, proactively preventing and combating negative manifestations, and improving training quality.

Officials from Nghe An Department of Transport conduct a field survey of the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway section passing through Thanh Thuy Border Gate. Photo: Thanh Le

The management of issuing and exchanging driving licenses using PET materials according to the new process is becoming more and more modern. Maintain the return of driving licenses via the guaranteed delivery service; carry out driving license exchanges at post offices in 21 districts, cities and towns in the province. Carry out driving license issuance immediately after the car and motorbike test for successful candidates. From 2016 to June 2018, about 324,000 driving licenses of all types were issued and exchanged.

The field of road motor vehicle inspection is carried out on modern equipment, basically meeting the inspection needs, ensuring inspection quality. Implementing administrative reform in the direction of publicity, transparency, reducing hassle, ensuring convenience and good service for the people; being evaluated by the province as one of the leading units in performing well the administrative reform work.

The Department is interested in directing the collection and payment of road use fees. Collecting fees correctly, fully, promptly and accurately. Traffic inspection work is conducted regularly, focusing on inspection and examination to ensure traffic safety and road and inland waterway transport activities, violations of traffic corridors, driver training and testing, protection of traffic structures, violations of traffic safety and order, etc.

Issuing and changing driving licenses through the one-stop department of Nghe An Department of Transport. Photo by Thanh Le

The Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to focus on directing the synchronous and drastic implementation of many positive solutions, with the determination and efforts of the entire political system in ensuring traffic order and safety. Therefore, the traffic accident situation has been controlled, the number of traffic accidents in the following year compared to the previous year has decreased in all 3 criteria.