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especially the plan.disbursement of basic construction, if the disbursement is not complete, the capital will be withdrawn and transferred.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 carry out the above tasks well, 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, although some checkpoints in localities have documents as prescribed by the Provincial People's Committee assigned by the Department of Transport to the Department of Transport for guidance in Document No. 2875/SGTVT-VT dated August 18, 2021 and fully implemented measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, they still face many difficulties when passing through quarantine checkpoints.

In order for traffic construction 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 Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, 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 checkpoints entering/exiting localities during the period of social distancing 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 sites 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 works projects: The vehicle must have a sign saying "VEHICLE TRANSPORTING WORKERS, STAFF OF THE COMPANY... WORKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE..."; The vehicle must go to the Checkpoint and stop at the prescribed 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) 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, masks must be worn 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 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; not requiring officers 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 at the same time, do not have to re-test for SARS-CoV-2 periodically if they do not leave the construction site.