PM orders stronger efforts to speed up site clearance for key transport projects

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính kicks off the intensive ‘500 days and nights’ drive to finish constructing 3,000 km of expressways on August 18. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has signed to issue an official dispatch asking for drastic efforts, the highest sense of responsibility and the engagement of the entire political system to speed up site clearance for national key transport projects.

In the official dispatch, sent to Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of 30 centrally-run cities and provinces nationwide and the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Industry and Trade, as well as the General Director of Việt Nam Electricity (EVN), the PM noted that site clearance, resettlement and technical infrastructure relocation for a number of projects have still lagged behind schedule, affecting their progress.

Particularly, the affected projects include many that are scheduled to complete in 2025 such as the eastern North-South Expressway in the 2021-2025 period, Tuyên Quang-Hà Giang, Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu, and Hòa Liên-Túy Loan Expressways, Hồ Chí Minh Belt Road No.3, component projects No.1 and 3 of Khánh Hòa-Buôn Ma Thuột Expressway.

In order to complete the projects on time, the PM asked leaders of relevant localities to focus on mobilising the general strength of the whole political system, organisations and unions in the site clearance work, work directly with local residents to flexibly deal with their requests, and coordinate with investors to prioritise site clearance in major locations.

For projects that are expected to be completed in 2025, it is necessary to speed up the construction of resettlement areas and the relocation of high-voltage power line systems, striving to hand over the ground to the projects by August 30, 2024.

Specifically, provinces and cities namely Tuyên Quang, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Đà Nẵng, Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương were asked to directed departments, sectors and localities to mobilise maximum resources to cope with difficulties and problems so as to hand over the entire sites for the eastern North-South Expressway in the 2021 – 2025 period, Tuyên Quang – Hà Giang, Hòa Liên – Túy Loan, Khánh Hòa – Buôn Ma Thuột, and Biên Hòa – Vũng Tàu Expressways, and Belt Road No. 3 of HCM City.

Related cities and provinces were requested to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and EVN to hasten the relocation of high-voltage power line systems, especially in localities with heavy workloads.

In the official dispatch, the Government leader mentioned specific tasks for particular localities to focus on.

He stressed the need for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and EVN to shorten procedures to ensure the completion of the relocation of power lines in projects that are scheduled to finish in 2025 within August.

The Ministry of Transport was ordered to direct investors and contractors to coordinate closely with localities and relevant agencies in site clearance and relocation of technical works for projects.

The PM assigned Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà, the Government Office and the Ministry of Transport to direct and monitor the implementation of this dispatch, and report matters beyond their authority to the PM. — VNS