Prime Minister issues order to start construction of 12 North-South expressway projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the groundbreaking ceremony of 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway Phase 2 at Quang Ngai bridge on the morning of January 1, 2023 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The groundbreaking ceremony was held simultaneously at 12 locations, with the central location in Quang Ngai, two main locations in Quang Binh and Hau Giang, and nine other sub-locations.

The 12 projects have a total length of 729 km, a design speed of 100 - 120 km/h, passing through 15 provinces and cities (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Ca Mau) with a total investment of about 147 trillion VND.

Also attending the groundbreaking ceremony at the bridge locations were Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha; Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi; Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang; and leaders of ministries, branches and localities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh listens to a report on some basic contents of 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway phase 2 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On January 10, 2022, at the first extraordinary session, the 15th National Assembly issued Resolution 44 on investment policy for the North-South Expressway Construction Project in the East for the 2021-2025 period.

Just one month later, the Government issued Resolution 18 and then continued to issue Resolution 119 to implement Resolution 44 of the National Assembly, clearly defining the responsibilities of ministries, branches, and localities and setting a very specific time for project completion.

According to Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, 12 projects have been allowed by the National Assembly and the Government to apply many special mechanisms, with the drastic and close direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the thorough participation of ministries, branches, localities, and the support and consensus of the people in the areas where the projects pass through.

Thanks to that, in just nearly 1 year, a large amount of work has been resolved, from investment preparation, technical design and estimate, contractor selection, site clearance, ensuring sufficient conditions for construction commencement according to legal regulations for all 12 projects, shortening the time for procedures by half compared to the previous method.

Meanwhile, for the North-South Expressway project in the 2017-2020 period (phase 1), the Cam Lo - La Son section has been completed and inaugurated by the Ministry of Transport and put into operation and use from December 31, 2022. On this occasion, 3 expressway sections: Mai Son - National Highway 45, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay were technically opened to traffic and will be put into operation and use before April 30, 2023.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated and commended the Ministry of Transport, relevant ministries and branches, project management boards, consulting units; authorities and people of provinces and cities where the project passes through - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The most important transport corridor, is the desire of the people of the whole country.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the 13th National Party Congress continues to identify building a synchronous infrastructure system as one of the three strategic breakthroughs, prioritizing the development of a number of key national projects on transportation and climate change adaptation...

In recent times, the Party and the State have devoted the greatest resources to developing transport infrastructure, investing in key areas and regions to create important driving forces for socio-economic development. Many modern transport projects such as highways, seaports, and airports have been and are being invested in and built, contributing to creating a new look for the country, helping to take advantage of the comparative advantages of regions and regions, exploiting land resources more effectively, and opening up new development space.

The Resolution of the 13th National Congress sets a target of having 5,000 km of expressways nationwide by 2030. Thus, in the next 10 years, we must invest and build nearly 4 times the number of expressways built in the period 2000 - 2020, about 1,000 km. This is a difficult task, but the Prime Minister believes that we will be able to do it with our existing experience, determination, efforts, investment from the Party and State, participation from all levels, sectors, localities, and the consensus and support of the people.

"To achieve this goal, we need to have new ways of doing things, thinking, methodologies, approaches, high determination, great efforts, drastic actions, focus, key points, and scientific, reasonable, and effective implementation," the Prime Minister emphasized.

The 2,063 km long North-South Expressway connecting Lang Son to Ca Mau, connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 32 provinces and cities, accounting for 62.1% of the population and contributing 65.7% of the country's GDP, has a very large scale, a driving force, a strong spillover effect, and is extremely important, promoting socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security, enhancing national competitiveness, opening up new development space for regions and localities, creating conditions for the formation of new industrial parks and urban areas.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this is the most important transport corridor in the national transport infrastructure system, along with many other expressways being invested in across the country, with priority given to disadvantaged areas such as the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands, and the northern mountainous region. The project is also an objective requirement for development, a great aspiration of our people, and has great economic, political, and social significance for the country and all people across the country.

The State has paid special attention and priority to investing in this backbone expressway, accelerating the progress of 11 component projects with a length of 654 km (investment decision in 2017) and starting construction of 12 component projects with a length of 729 km (investment decision in 2021).

The Prime Minister highly appreciated and commended the Ministry of Transport, relevant ministries, branches, project management boards, consulting units; the authorities and people of the provinces and cities where the project passes through for their determination, efforts, high sense of responsibility, overcoming difficulties, completing many procedures, clearing land, shortening the time to carry out procedures, creating favorable conditions for project implementation.

The initial results are very encouraging, but in the coming time, the work is very large and full of difficulties and challenges, such as having to quickly complete site clearance for the remaining locations, including densely populated areas that are prone to complaints; preparing a very large volume of construction materials that requires active and responsible participation from localities; carrying out a very large volume of construction in many different locations, in a short period of time and subject to weather impacts.

Requirements for project implementation are: Ensuring progress, not allowing it to be prolonged; not increasing capital or total investment; ensuring construction quality, technical and aesthetic requirements; ensuring investment efficiency, not allowing corruption, negativity, waste; strictly and fully complying with Party regulations, State laws, inspection and examination work; strictly and promptly rewarding and punishing; promptly handling arising issues regarding prices, materials, human resources, design, etc.

The Prime Minister and leaders of ministries, branches and localities with projects passing through perform the groundbreaking ceremony - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Emphasizing the key tasks to complete the goal of connecting the expressway from Lang Son to Ca Mau by 2025, the Prime Minister requested agencies, localities, units and individuals participating in the project to promote the maximum sense of responsibility, comply with regulations on the basis of assigned functions, tasks and powers, coordinate synchronously, closely and effectively, carry out tasks proactively and positively, do not wait, rely on others, do not shirk responsibility, work substantially with high determination, make great efforts, act decisively, effectively, with focus, finish each task, resolve any difficulties and obstacles, proactively grasp the situation, solve problems, and strengthen discipline.

"We must consider this as our own work. If we say we must do it, if we commit to it, we must do it. If we do it, it must be effective, with specific products, and must be evaluated and recognized by the people and competent authorities," the Prime Minister stated.

The Ministry of Transport focuses on directing project management boards, supervision consultants and contractors to promote the highest sense of responsibility, mobilize human resources, modern machinery and equipment, develop scientific, detailed and suitable construction plans and methods, ensure efficiency, quality, safety and environmental protection; strictly comply with technical requirements and legal regulations, and prevent corruption and negativity. Direct investors, especially leaders, to closely follow and be determined in operating and managing quality, progress and investment capital throughout the project implementation process, ensuring that component projects are completed on schedule and with required quality.

Relevant ministries and branches of the Central Government, People's Committees of 32 provinces and cities where the project passes through, coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to continue to create favorable conditions, promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, ensure security and order so that the Project Management Board and contractors can ensure progress and efficiency. Provincial People's Committees grant licenses to exploit construction material mines to project contractors quickly, conveniently, and in accordance with legal regulations; the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment directly directs and establishes working groups to resolve difficulties and obstacles related to material mines.

Provincial People's Committees carry out site clearance and technical infrastructure relocation, ensuring 100% handover of site area in the second quarter of 2023. Special attention is paid to resettlement work, supporting production stabilization so that people have new places to live, new jobs, new farming places equal to and better than their old places so that people support the major policies of the Party and State.

Construction contractors must mobilize sufficient human resources, equipment, and finance to focus on completing the package. Design consultants and construction supervision consultants must seriously and responsibly conduct surveys, make estimates, and supervise the construction of the packages, and take full responsibility according to legal regulations if any violations occur.

The Prime Minister stated that investment in transport infrastructure is not only the task of the Ministry of Transport but also the task of localities, ministries and branches for the practical benefits of localities and for the development of the country. The Government always pays attention and directs strongly to complete the project on schedule and with quality; meeting the requirements of socio-economic development, improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

The Prime Minister requested that contractors must mobilize sufficient human resources, equipment, and finance to focus on completing the package - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Peak month of public investment disbursement competition

On this occasion, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the initiative of the Ministry of Transport to launch the "Spring Quy Mao Emulation Movement at traffic construction sites"; the Ministry of Planning and Investment launched the "Peak Emulation Month for Public Investment Disbursement". Previously, on November 18, 2022, in Ninh Binh, the Central Emulation and Reward Council launched the emulation movement "Promoting the development of synchronous and modern infrastructure and practicing thrift and combating waste".

The Prime Minister affirmed that investment in transport infrastructure accounts for a large proportion of public investment - an important part of social investment. In 2022, the Government organized many national conferences on promoting public investment disbursement, established and maintained the operation of 6 Working Groups to inspect, urge, remove difficulties and obstacles, focus on handling long-standing issues and promptly resolve and respond to newly arising issues, and resolve regulatory problems related to 7 areas: land, environmental protection, bidding, budget and public assets, construction, natural resources and minerals, and public investment.

By December 31, 2022, public investment disbursement reached VND 435,700 billion, although nearly VND 80,000 billion higher, up 22% compared to 2021, but only reached 75.11% of the 2022 plan.

To complete the disbursement target of 95% of the plan as set out while the remaining time of the 2022 budget year is only 1 month, the Prime Minister requested that departments, ministries, branches, central agencies, localities, units using public investment capital, people and enterprises nationwide must be highly determined, unified in perception and action to create a competitive movement to disburse public investment effectively and practically.

In particular, promote the responsibility and political determination of leaders in organizing, directing, and handling problems affecting public investment projects. Focus on directing construction, speeding up project implementation progress, especially important and key national transport infrastructure projects, inter-regional projects, large urban infrastructure, urban railway projects, cultural and social infrastructure; carry out payment procedures at the State Treasury immediately after the volume is available.

At the same time, urgently review and remove difficulties and bottlenecks in institutions and legal mechanisms regulating the operation of public investment projects, first of all, immediately correcting discovered shortcomings to promote disbursement of public investment capital, improve capital use efficiency, and create momentum for socio-economic development.

Along with that, strengthen discipline and order in public investment; promote decentralization, delegation of authority, allocation of resources, improve implementation capacity associated with inspection, supervision. Strengthen and improve the effectiveness of coordination between ministries, branches, localities, agencies and related units. Speed ​​up the disbursement of public investment capital but must ensure investment quality and efficiency, avoid corruption, negativity and waste.

Press and media agencies increase information and propaganda on the content of the Peak Emulation Month, create consensus in society, actively propagate, disseminate and replicate advanced models.

The Prime Minister respectfully requested the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations at the central level and at all levels, and sectors, based on their functions and tasks, to mobilize union members and association members to well organize emulation movements and the Peak Emulation Month, contributing to the successful implementation of the annual socio-economic development plan and the entire 2021-2025 period.

The Prime Minister met and encouraged some households who had to give up their land to build the eastern North-South Expressway - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Handed over about 70% of the site for 12 projects

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, in Duc Hoa commune, Mo Duc district, the Prime Minister met and encouraged some households who had to give up their land to build the eastern North-South Expressway and listened to reports on difficulties and obstacles in site clearance for the project. To date, localities have handed over about 70% of the land for 12 projects.

According to the report, the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon (Binh Dinh) expressway project passing through Mo Duc district is 10.8 km long, affecting 695 households and 150 households having to relocate. Site clearance work is being actively and resolutely implemented, basically meeting the schedule.

The Prime Minister kindly visited and listened to the aspirations of local people - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Sharing with the Prime Minister, the people were happy and grateful for the attention of the Prime Minister and the working delegation, and affirmed their agreement and support for the project, expressing excitement and belief that the project would contribute to promoting the local socio-economic development more strongly, and at the same time requesting that all levels and sectors pay attention to the households that have to be relocated, and continue to resolutely implement the work so that the project can be completed soon.

Warmly visiting and listening to the aspirations of local people, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed that in 2022, under the leadership of the Party, directly and regularly led by the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, our country has overcome many difficulties and challenges, achieved general goals, important achievements in socio-economic development, maintained political stability, social order and safety, firmly protected independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, proactively and actively promoted and expanded integration and foreign affairs.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the budget revenue exceeded the estimate by VND391,000 billion, thanks to which the country has more budget to invest in socio-economic development, ensure social security, care for people's lives, and build infrastructure works, including highways. At the same time, it is estimated that by the end of December 2022, the total amount of taxes, fees, and charges exempted, reduced, and extended for people and businesses will be about VND193,400 billion.

The Prime Minister pointed out that one of the important reasons for achieving the above results is the spirit of great national unity, the consensus and support of the people. In addition, the socio-economic situation still has some shortcomings and limitations that need to be overcome and made more efforts; in which, the lives of a part of the people are still difficult.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister requested all levels, sectors and localities to continue to care about people's lives during Tet, especially policy beneficiaries, meritorious people, the poor, ethnic minorities, remote areas, border areas, islands, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, so that no one is left behind, so that people can have a joyful, healthy, safe and economical Tet.

Site clearance is a very important step for socio-economic development projects. The Party and the State are very understanding and sympathetic to the people when their livelihoods are affected, having to give up their homes of hundreds, thousands of years, their birthplaces for projects.

The Prime Minister thanked and expressed his joy that people were willing to give up their land for the benefit of the country, the locality and the people where the project passes through - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister stated that site clearance is a very important step for socio-economic development projects; he affirmed that the Party and State are very understanding and sympathetic to people whose livelihoods are affected, having to give up their homes of hundreds, thousands of years, their birthplaces for projects.

The Prime Minister thanked and expressed his joy that the people were willing to give up their land for the benefit of the country, the locality and the people where the project passes through; he hoped that the people would uphold the fine traditions of their homeland, continue to support the project, and that all levels, sectors and localities would take part synchronously and resolutely in the spirit of harmonizing the interests of the State, the people and enterprises on the basis of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws to soon complete the site clearance for the expressway projects.

The Prime Minister presented gifts to some households that had to give up their land to build the eastern North-South Expressway - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

"A policy supported by the people means that the Party's will is in line with the people's wishes. The highest goal of our Party and State is a strong and prosperous country, with a prosperous and happy people. The spirit is that the new place of residence for our people must be at least equal to the old place and we strive for the new place to be better than the old place, and each year to be better than the previous year," the Prime Minister emphasized.