Updating the progress of the project to enhance traffic connectivity in the Central Highlands region (project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 19 through the Central Highlands), Mr. Le Thang, Director of Project Management Board 2, said that up to now, the section through Gia Lai province has been basically completed.

The section through Binh Dinh province is facing land clearance problems with some households in Tay Son district still obstructing the asphalt paving work.

"However, Binh Dinh province is committed to working with the people to completely hand over the project to the contractor to complete it on schedule by the end of 2024," Mr. Thang informed.

To ensure project progress, previously, in November, the Ministry of Transport also sent a document requesting the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to completely resolve existing problems and difficulties in site clearance work.

Emphasizing that this is an ODA project using WB loan capital, the loan agreement will expire on December 31, 2024 and cannot be extended, the Ministry of Transport requested the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to pay attention and resolutely direct relevant departments, branches and local authorities to focus on removing difficulties, thoroughly resolving existing problems and obstacles, and promptly handing over the site for the project.

The project to enhance traffic connectivity in the Central Highlands region will upgrade about 127km of National Highway 19 and build about 27-35km of new bypass routes with a total investment of nearly 156 million USD.

Of the total investment capital of the project, the loan from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank (WB) is 150 million USD; counterpart capital is equivalent to 3.7 million USD; non-refundable aid from the Australian Government for technical design work is 2.1 million USD.