6,600 families to be relocated to extend North-South expressway

The phase will comprise three sections of 267 km between Ha Tinh and Quang Tri provinces, 353 km between Quang Ngai Province and Nha Trang Town and 109 km between Can Tho City and Ca Mau Province, the first two in the central region and the other in the south.

The work will affect 40,100 families, but only 6,600 will have to move out since the rest will only have to give up a part of their land.

The acquisition must be completed to enable work starts later this year, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has told the Ministry of Transport.

In January this year the National Assembly approved lengthening of the eastern part of the North-South Expressway by 729 km (453 miles).

It will run through 12 cities and provinces and cost a total of VND146.99 trillion (US$6 billion), and the work will be done through a public-private partnership.

In February the government gave the transport ministry the green light to choose contractors for the work instead of organizing bidding.