Traffic connection, creating development momentum

(Baonghean) - "Traffic is the lifeblood of an organization. Good traffic makes everything easy. Bad traffic makes everything stagnant." President Ho Chi Minh's simple saying emphasizes the important role of traffic in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, and is also his advice that officials and workers in the traffic industry always remember and strive to implement.

From the legendary road

On the majestic Truong Son mountain range of the S-shaped country, the road named after the beloved leader of the nation - Ho Chi Minh Trail has become a legend. During the great resistance war for national defense, the Vietnamese transport sector has made glorious achievements, taking the lead in road opening, from land trails to the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea. After the war ended, in response to the requirements of the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, the Party and the Government assigned the Ministry of Transport to study and plan to form the second cross-Vietnam road axis (after National Highway 1A) in the West of the Fatherland - Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The goal of building the Ho Chi Minh Trail was determined by the Party and the State to create connectivity, exploit and develop the vast land with rich economic potential in the West of the Fatherland; form a second cross-Vietnam axis to gradually complete the North - Central - South transportation network; contribute to ensuring border defense, political stability, national defense and security; preserve and embellish historical relics of the Truong Son Trail, in order to educate and promote the tradition of building and defending the country for future generations. Accordingly, the planning scope of the Ho Chi Minh Trail passes through 28 provinces and cities with a total length of about 3,183 km. The starting point of the route is Pac Bo (Cao Bang province) and the end point is Dat Mui (Ca Mau province).

Ho Chi Minh Trail - an important support artery for the war against America to save the country. Photo: St

Nghe An is proud to be the locality chosen by the Central Party Politburo to place Landmark 0 on the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail - the origin of the East-West strategic corridor. During the resistance war against the US, the Truong Son Trail through Nghe An was an important support artery. This place was one of the first key targets of attack, and also the last place to stop the gunfire to fight back against the US aircraft.

And here, together with the army, traffic workers, local people, 43,000 Youth Volunteers of Nghe An and hundreds of thousands of Youth Volunteers across the country have devoted their blood and youth for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. People with the iron determination of "Living on the bridge, on the road, dying bravely", "The enemy attacks, we repair, we go" have portrayed the wonderful image of the Youth Volunteers, protecting the vital road to the great front line, contributing worthily to the common victory of the nation, bringing glory to the homeland and the country.

Up to now, the trail has been expanded, paved flat, crossed deep streams, high passes, connecting the regions firmly. Along both sides of the modern Ho Chi Minh road, new towns have been formed. The breath of modern life has filled both sides of the Ho Chi Minh road through Nghe An (134 km, through 29 communes in the midland and mountainous areas) with the green of immense rubber forests, tea gardens, hybrid acacia forests, sugarcane forests, coffee, watermelon, fruit gardens, grass hills for livestock; are Nghia Binh market, Lat town, Hanh Lam tea area, TH milk factory, rubber company, ... springing up in association with the raw material area, promising an increasingly prosperous life. Mr. Nguyen Duy Thuy, Secretary of Tan Ky District Party Committee, said: “The Ho Chi Minh Trail, the legendary strategic road that Tan Ky people directly participated in building and through which contributed human and material resources to the frontline during the resistance war, has been upgraded and expanded, creating favorable conditions for 6 communes in the district. The Party Committee and the government consider this a great advantage that needs to be promoted in the process of planning economic, cultural and social development…”.

On the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail today, potentials and strengths are awakening to join the East-West economic corridor in the process of building a strong and prosperous Nghe An. Today, on the modern Ho Chi Minh trail, bustling with new life, there are the marks of generations building together, so that the industrialization and modernization path will bring the country and homeland to become increasingly rich and prosperous.

Continuing the tradition

Taking Uncle Ho's teachings to heart, with its important mission, Nghe An's transport sector overcame difficulties, not only achieving and exceeding progress on important traffic routes, but also meeting all travel and communication needs of people and transporting goods during circulation.

The overpass of the North-South railway and National Highway 46 in Cua Nam ward (Vinh city). Photo: SM

The great success of Nghe An today is the synchronous traffic system, which has completely changed the lives of people in the localities, especially in the mountainous districts. The important traffic route through the province is National Highway 1A with a scale of 4 lanes, which is being upgraded and expanded. A series of important routes are being urgently completed, creating favorable conditions for trade, shortening the distance between regions, such as: upgrading and expanding National Highway 7, Dien Chau - Do Luong section, some sections of National Highway 48, National Highway 46, National Highway 15 and a series of important provincial roads. The Tay Nghe An route connecting the 3 mountainous districts of Tuong Duong - Ky Son and Que Phong is considered a belt road with a strategic position in economic development, building the national defense - security posture in the border areas of the Fatherland. The system of overpasses, suspension bridges and rigid bridges are also infrastructures that are focused on to change the appearance of each urban area, aiming at socio-economic development.

Vinh Airport. Photo TL

The proud achievement of Nghe An's transport sector is also recognized through the upgrading of Vinh Airport with a total investment of 1,000 billion VND, with component projects including the Passenger Terminal, multi-level roads, car parks, and expansion of the aircraft parking lot to serve large aircraft. Vinh Airport was approved by the Prime Minister for upgrading to an international airport. Along with aviation, the Cua Lo deep-water seaport system and Dong Hoi Port were included in the Vietnam seaport planning. Last year, Cua Lo Port carried out a project to dredge the shipping channel to ensure the entry and exit of fully loaded 10,000-ton ships. The highlight in 2015 was that the province attracted investment from Tuan Loc Construction Investment Joint Stock Company to start construction of berths 5 and 6 of Cua Lo Port and in the future Cua Lo Port will be upgraded and expanded to accommodate 20,000-30,000-ton ships.

Cua Lo Port.. Photo: CL

Outstanding in the results of transport activities in the province in recent years is the movement to build rural roads that has been widely deployed throughout the province. After 4 years of implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Construction, up to now, the whole province has built and upgraded 4,455 km of rural roads of all kinds, with a total cost of 7,300.275 billion VND. The province supported 3 phases, with 334,608 tons of cement, equivalent to 1,860 km, and at the same time mobilized people to contribute more funds and working days to expand and upgrade alley, inter-village, inter-commune roads...

In addition to infrastructure development, the transport sector has also made great strides in the transport sector. The types of transport: road, air, rail, inland waterway are maintained and developed, basically meeting the travel needs of the people. In particular, the air transport sector has developed strongly, successfully organizing the opening ceremony of the Vinh - Vientiane international flight route, increasing the total number of operating routes to 6, including 5 domestic routes; performing an average of 26 flights/day. Vinh airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In 2014, the number of passengers passing through the port was about 1.2 million, with revenue reaching 55 billion VND.

To achieve the above highlights, the Transport sector has actively reformed administration, focusing on areas related to organizations and individuals coming to work such as: appraisal of traffic works, inspection of road motor vehicles, issuance and exchange of driving licenses, intermodal licenses... All stages have shortened processing time, convenient for the people.

Talking to us, comrade Nguyen Hong Ky, Director of Nghe An Department of Transport affirmed: Developing the transport network is a premise for the socio-economic development of the province. In 2015, the sector focused on key points, continuing to make breakthroughs in the transport sector: inaugurating the Truong Bon Martyrs Memorial; inaugurating and putting into use Chau Thon - Tan Xuan road, Tay Nghe An road. At the same time, speed up transport development projects to ensure connectivity within the North Central region, key economic zones and within Nghe An province. In the near future, some routes such as Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard, Yen Xuan Bridge, Nghi Son - Cua Lo coastal road, Muong Xen - Na Loi - Khe Kien road, Tay Thanh Hoa road connecting Tay Nghe An, that is National Highway 45 connecting National Highway 48 will be focused on implementation, opening some more flights, continuing to call for investment in Cua Lo Port... increasing the ability to connect the dynamic economic zones of Nghe An and the region, promoting higher socio-economic development, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution 26 of the Politburo.

Le Thanh