Removing difficulties for construction projects in Nghe An

Currently, Nghe An province is implementing many construction projects: North-South Expressway, coastal road from Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) - Cua Lo Nghe An, through Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc districts, Cua Lo town; Muong Xen - Ta Do - Khe Kien road in Ky Son district; Upgrading and expanding National Highway 15A (Km301+500 - Km333+200), Nghi Thiet deep-water port...

Many construction projects in the province need to continue. Photo: Tran Chau

The request of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and the province is to urgently complete the progress, especially the plan.basic construction disbursement, if not fully disbursed, the capital will be withdrawn and transferred. In addition, the management and regular maintenance work on national highways and provincial roads must be carried out regularly and continuously to ensure traffic safety. To effectively carry out the above tasks, the Department of Transport must send project management staff and inspection staff to the site; contractors transport human resources, materials, and equipment to the construction site and vice versa.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Duc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, at many construction sites such as the North-South Expressway or the coastal road through Nghe An... motorbikes are stalled, many workers are on leave and progress is not guaranteed. The reason is due to the implementation of Directives 15 and 16 to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, problems have arisen.

Lack of human resources has caused the upgrade of National Highway 15A to be delayed. Photo: Tran Chau

Up to now, localities have established entry/exit checkpoints to control and prevent the epidemic. However, some checkpoints in localities, although the officers of the Project Management Board under the Department of Transport, officers and workers of the project construction units have the required documents as instructed by the Provincial People's Committee to the Department of Transport in Document No. 2875/SGTVT-VT dated August 18, 2021 and fully implemented measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, still encounter many difficulties when passing through the quarantine checkpoints.

In order for traffic projects in the province to be implemented smoothly, ensuring construction progress and completing disbursement work according to Official Dispatch No. 26/CD-UBND dated August 23, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee Chairman, the Department of Transport has issued a document requesting the Provincial People's Committee to consider and direct Vinh city and urban districts to promptly implement a number of contents:

The firstAllowing officers of the Project Management Board of the Department of Transport, officers, workers, vehicles transporting construction materials and equipment serving transport projects under the Department to pass through entry/exit points of localities during the period of social isolation according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister, provided that epidemic prevention work is ensured.

The Transport sector is responsible for ensuring the following conditions:

+ For officers of the Project Management Board of the Department of Transport when traveling from Vinh city to projects/construction works outside the city, a specific list must be made, with a dispatch/mobilization document from the head of the organization signed at the checkpoints, clearly stating the place of departure, destination, time of departure/arrival, and permission to stay to direct the project. All officers and workers (including drivers) when passing through the checkpoints must have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result using Real-time RT-PCR technique within 72 hours from the date of test results, make an electronic health declaration according to regulations and wear a mask throughout the journey.

+ For cars transporting cadres and workers of enterprises serving the construction and supervision of traffic projects: The vehicle must have a sign that reads "VEHICLE TRANSPORTING WORKERS, STAFF OF THE COMPANY... WORKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE..."; The vehicle must go to the checkpoint and stop at the designated place according to the instructions of the officer on duty at the checkpoint; The driver must present a list of cadres and workers transported on the vehicle signed and stamped by the head of the Company; The driver and all people on the vehicle must present identification documents (ID card or citizen identification card) and a negative SARS CoV-2 test result notice within 72 hours from the date of the test result issued by a competent testing agency; Make an electronic health declaration via QR-Code issued by the officer on duty at the checkpoint (if there is no smartphone, make a paper health declaration); At the same time, you must wear a mask at all times during transportation.

In addition, workers must make medical declarations at the locality where the construction site is located; Business owners must arrange accommodation and meals at the construction site for workers and staff, require them to not have contact with people outside the construction site, and not allow workers to return to Vinh city during the period of social isolation according to the regulations.Directive 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister.

The Transport Department also recommendedThe People's Committee of Vinh city, districts and towns with traffic construction projects invested by the Department of Transport shall direct the People's Committees of communes, wards, towns and checkpoints in the area to create favorable conditions for traffic construction projects to be implemented smoothly; do not require cadres and workers at the construction site (coming from Vinh city area) to be quarantined when they have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 using Real-time RT-PCR technique within 72 hours, and do not have to re-test for SARS-CoV-2 periodically if they do not leave the construction site.