The goal is to have 5,000 km of expressways by 2030.

The Government Office has just issued Notice No. 42/TB-VPCP dated February 14, 2022, summarizing the conclusions of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh at the meeting on investment preparation for expressway construction projects in the 2021-2025 period.

The North-South Expressway will make a positive contribution to boosting socio-economic development. (Illustrative image)

In the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Transport, other ministries, the People's Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and other localities in preparing dossiers and implementing appraisal procedures for expressway projects in the 2021-2025 period. These are very large-scale projects, including 5 nationally important projects and 4 Group A projects. The Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister have paid special attention to directing and prioritizing resources for infrastructure development, including these expressways. With a total length of approximately 865 km for the Eastern North-South Expressway Project and 729 km for the 2021-2025 period, its completion will be of great significance in the recovery and socio-economic development of the country in the coming period. It will also achieve the goals of having 3,000 km of expressways by 2025 and 5,000 km by 2030, as approved by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

In Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 dated January 11, 2022, the National Assembly requested the Government to ensure the disbursement of funds for the Program in 2022 and 2023 to contribute to the rapid recovery and development of production and business activities, and to promote economic growth. Furthermore, given the role and significance of expressways in the socio-economic development of economic regions (the Capital Region, the Southeast Region, the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands, and the Northwest), the National Assembly requested ministries, sectors, and localities to continue to enhance their political responsibility and, for the benefit of the country, to be more determined and focused in the implementation of these projects.

Report on the Ring Road 3 and 4 Project in February 2022

Specifically, regarding the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project and the Capital Region Ring Road 4 project, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that the Ministries, the State Appraisal Council, localities, and relevant agencies strictly implement the directives of the Prime Minister in Notices No. 21/TB-VPCP dated January 24, 2022, No. 23/TB-VPCP dated January 25, 2022, and No. 29/TB-VPCP dated January 30, 2022, from the Government Office, with particular attention to completing all procedures to report to the Politburo and submit to the National Assembly before March 20, 2022.

Due to time constraints, members of the State Appraisal Council are requested to promptly submit their opinions to the Ministry of Planning and Investment so that the State Appraisal Council can report to the Prime Minister before February 25, 2022, for the Ring Road 4 in the Capital Region and within February 2022, for the Ring Road 3 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Establish a Project Appraisal Council for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot roads.

For the two expressway projects, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is urgently submitting a proposal to the Prime Minister to establish a State Appraisal Council before February 16, 2022.

Regarding the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang - Tran De Expressway Project, the State Appraisal Council, established under Decision No. 1456/QD-TTg dated September 3, 2021, continues to appraise the project under the public investment model to accelerate progress. The State Appraisal Council and relevant ministries and agencies are urged to promptly appraise the projects to ensure timely submission to the National Assembly at the 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly.

For projects classified as Group A, the Ministry of Transport, in coordination with local authorities, will urgently work and carefully calculate to finalize the specific contents (investment form, investment scale, project component breakdown, investment capital sources, implementation responsibilities, etc.), and report to the Prime Minister before March 2022.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested relevant ministries and localities to urgently and strictly implement the Government's directives in Resolution No. 18/NQ-CP dated February 11, 2022 and Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall promptly and efficiently develop and allocate capital for each project; and shall take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Transport to submit to the Prime Minister a decision on decentralizing the authority to the People's Committees of provinces with sufficient capacity and experience in project management to implement the expressway sections passing through their territories.

Local authorities are responsible for completing procedures related to compensation, support, resettlement, and construction solid waste disposal sites to meet required deadlines; and for strictly managing mineral mines for common construction materials to ensure sufficient supply for projects.

Vu Phuong Nhi