Accelerating to complete another 1,200 km of highways by 2025

On the morning of August 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and works, key to the transport sector (Steering Committee) chaired the 13th meeting of the Steering Committee.

The meeting was held directly and online between the Government headquarters and provinces and centrally-run cities with important national projects and key transport sector works and projects in the area.

The meeting aims to review and urge the work after the 12th meeting and discuss solutions, continue to remove difficulties and obstacles, and promote the progress of works and projects.

Currently, the list of projects that the Steering Committee monitors and directs includes 40 major projects/92 component projects in 3 areas: Road, railway and aviation, passing through 48 provinces and centrally-run cities.

After 12 meetings, the Prime Minister, Head of the Steering Committee, issued 12 conclusions; over 400 dispatches to urge and remove difficulties and obstacles to promote project implementation.

Expected to complete 1,200 km by 2025

According to the report and opinions at the meeting, since the beginning of the term, the country has completed 2 expressway projects (with 12 component projects, including 11 component projects of the North-South Eastern Expressway in the 2017-2020 period and Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho Expressway) with a total length of 693 km passing through 15 provinces and cities, bringing the total number of expressways to about 2,021 km.

According to the report of the Ministry of Transport, the total number of expressway projects under construction is about 1,700 km across the country, from expressway projects on the North-South axis, projects connecting the East-West axis, connecting the Northwest region, and the Central Highlands region.

Of which, about 1,200 km is expected to be completed by 2025, of which 13 projects and component projects with a length of 736 km with favorable conditions will be completed in 2025, 10 projects/component projects with a length of 377 km need to focus on removing difficulties, construction in 3 shifts, 4 crews to complete in 2025...

Reports and opinions at the meeting unanimously assessed that after the 12th meeting, ministries, branches and localities have made efforts in implementing tasks, focusing on investment preparation and implementation of investment projects.

Of which, Hanoi has completed the acceptance of the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station elevated section to put it into operation from August 8. Ho Chi Minh City has completed the approval of the investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai project under the PPP method; and approved the adjustment of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien urban railway project.

The Ministry of Transport has submitted and received approval from the National Assembly for the investment policy of the Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh project; reported to the Government on the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis; approved the Dau Giay-Tan Phu expressway project; completed and put into operation the remaining section of the Dien Chau-Bai Vot expressway component project...

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has completed the appraisal of the Dau Giay-Tan Phu and Dong Dang-Tra Linh projects. The Ministry of Construction has coordinated with the Ministry of Transport to complete the survey of some norms at the expressway project and is finalizing the revision of the circular on construction norms.

Where there is difficulty, there is solution.

On behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged, commended, highly appreciated and thanked the active participation, efforts and working spirit of ministries, branches, localities, project management boards, enterprises, construction contractors, supervision consultants, especially the team of officers, engineers, workers and laborers who have worked enthusiastically at project construction sites in the past time.

The implemented and completed projects have contributed to promoting socio-economic development, creating new development space for localities where the projects pass through, creating new urban and service areas, increasing land value, reducing logistics costs, increasing the competitiveness of products and goods, facilitating transportation, creating jobs and livelihoods for people, developing businesses, contributing to public investment disbursement, promoting growth momentum, and creating trust and support from the people.

In addition to the positive results, the Prime Minister pointed out that there are still some tasks that have not been completed on time or have not been implemented as required. Site clearance in some localities is still slow. It is necessary to urgently complete the system of norms and guidelines for determining material prices at mines according to specific mechanisms...

According to the Prime Minister, through practical leadership, direction and implementation of projects, many important experiences have been gained.

Accordingly, the Steering Committee must operate seriously, regularly, substantially, effectively, creating motivation and inspiration for relevant entities. To perform well the assigned tasks, ministries, agencies, localities, especially leaders, must uphold personal responsibility, put national and ethnic interests and the interests of the people above all, promote high responsibility in the spirit of always listening, learning and self-improvement.

Along with that, it is necessary to focus on promoting the spirit of solidarity, unity, mutual support, sharing, close coordination, synchronization and harmony between state management agencies, party committees, local authorities, businesses and people.

In the process of performing tasks and handling difficulties, we must boldly and creatively apply the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, maximize the spirit of initiative, positivity, self-reliance, and self-strengthening, strive to overcome difficulties and challenges to rise up, learn from experience while doing, not be perfectionist, not hasty, but must be extremely determined, resolve difficulties wherever they arise, and the level at which responsibility is assigned must be resolved.

Ministries, branches, localities, agencies, investors, contractors, consultants, engineers, workers, and laborers are active, enthusiastic, and make efforts with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "only working, not retreating", "3 shifts, 4 shifts", "eating quickly, sleeping urgently", "through holidays, Tet, and days off", "finishing work", "committing to doing, must be done, promised must be done", doing, doing must produce products, specific and measurable results.

Build detailed critical path to complete projects in 2025

The Prime Minister emphasized the goal of completing an additional 1,200 km of expressways by 2025, bringing the total length of expressways nationwide to over 3,000 km, contributing to the successful implementation of the 13th National Congress Resolution and welcoming Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country, and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

However, the weather has now entered the rainy season with many unusual and unfavorable changes forecast. There is not much time left from now until the end of 2025 and it is a period that needs to be accelerated and breakthrough to implement a large volume of work. Relevant entities must do well in project preparation procedures, site clearance, contractor selection, material assurance, speed up construction progress, control quality, engineering, construction aesthetics, ensure safety, hygiene, and environmental restoration.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport to preside over and coordinate with localities to urgently develop and promulgate a detailed plan for "critical progress of project completion in 2025" suitable for site clearance conditions, material sources, and weather conditions, to serve as a basis for monitoring, urging, directing, and strictly controlling the construction progress of projects, ensuring the completion of the target of 3,000 km of expressway by the end of 2025; especially for projects that are behind schedule, it is necessary to have the initiative, determination, and outstanding efforts of the competent authorities, investors, and contractors to be able to complete them on schedule.

Along with that, respond to and effectively implement the emulation movement "500 peak days and nights to successfully complete expressway projects"; assign "clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, clear efficiency".

Regarding site clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure (high voltage electricity), the Prime Minister stated that this is a very important task, directly affecting the project's progress. Many projects have a small amount of site clearance but are difficult, so he requested localities to focus more, be more determined, and mobilize the entire political system to participate as directed by the Prime Minister to complete site clearance as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Transport and localities have directed project management boards and contractors to proactively focus on constructing items that are critical to progress, such as large tunnels, large bridges, areas that require additional loading, and weak ground treatment...

Pointing out specific tasks that ministries, branches and localities need to focus on implementing in the coming time, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport to continue directing investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to complete the North-South expressway project in the 2021-2025 period, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Hoa Lien-Tuy Loan in 2025 and the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot component project 2, Ho Chi Minh road as planned.

Urgently select investors to start the Dau Giay-Tan Phu project soon; complete procedures to submit to the National Assembly to adjust the investment policy of the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau project; accelerate the implementation of component project 4 of Long Thanh International Airport; complete the investment policy project for the high-speed railway on the North-South axis to submit to competent authorities.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to promptly complete procedures to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee a Resolution adjusting the policy on changing the purpose of using forests, forest land and rice land from two or more crops of the North-South Expressway project in the Eastern region in the period of 2021-2025; advise the Government to issue a resolution on adjusting the permitted operating time during the day for sand and gravel mining on riverbeds.

The Ministry of Construction urgently completes the system of norms and guides localities to determine the price of construction materials at mines according to a specific mechanism, to be completed in August 2024.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proactively guides localities in implementing procedures for changing forest use purposes according to Decree No. 91/2024/ND-CP.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall promptly advise the Prime Minister to approve the adjustment of the investment policy for the Nam Thang Long-Tran Hung Dao urban railway project; promptly review and propose amendments to policies and laws on investment under the public-private partnership model related to the development of the infrastructure system, and submit them to the National Assembly at the 8th session (October 2024). Representatives of corporations and enterprises speaking at the conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac. For localities, the Prime Minister requested Hanoi and Cao Bang to coordinate with relevant agencies to speed up the progress and promptly approve the adjustment of the investment policy for the Dong Dang-Tra Linh project and the Nam Thang Long-Tran Hung Dao urban railway (Hanoi).

Localities need to speed up the implementation progress to complete by August 2024 all site clearance and technical infrastructure relocation of projects scheduled to be completed in 2025, especially localities with low site clearance handover rates.

Localities with material mines in the Southern region strictly implement the Prime Minister's direction on coordinating the implementation of procedures for granting filling material mines and stone mines for projects, giving priority to the Can Tho-Ca Mau project and Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, which are scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Son La and Tien Giang provinces are speeding up procedures to soon start construction of Hoa Binh-Moc Chau, Cao Lanh-An Huu projects, and component project 3 of Hanoi Ring Road 4.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Transport, as the standing agency, to further promote its proactiveness and coordinate with the Government Office to urge assigned tasks and promptly synthesize reports to competent authorities to resolve difficulties and problems.