Urgently implement key tasks to complete 3,000 km of expressway by 2025

The Government Office has just issued Notice 432/TB-VPCP dated September 24, 2024, concluding the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh - Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and works, key to the transport sector at the 14th meeting of the Steering Committee.

The announcement clearly stated that in the context of having to make a breakthrough in implementing tasks to complete the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress, including 3,000km of expressways by 2025; both as a growth driver for localities and the whole country, creating new development space (service areas, industries, new urban areas, etc.), creating added value for land; reducing transportation costs to help compete for goods; facilitating people and businesses to travel; moreover, in the situation where the whole country is joining hands to overcome the consequences of storms and floods, we must promote growth, prioritize growth, then implementing projects is even more urgent and an important task. Therefore, the task of promoting public investment, including investment in transport infrastructure, requires the participation of the entire political system. Government committees, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations, according to their assigned functions, tasks, and authority, proactively fulfill their commitments, promises, and words.

To contribute to overcoming the consequences of storms and floods, contributing to disbursing public investment capital, creating momentum for socio-economic development, local ministries, branches, investors, consulting units, and contractors according to their assigned functions and tasks need to make efforts to implement projects with the spirit of doing what they promised, doing what they did, having results, having specific products, paying attention to quality, labor safety, environmental sanitation; promoting the spirit of "overcoming the sun and winning the rain, not losing to storms and floods", adapting to nature and unusual weather.

The total number of projects in the Steering Committee's list is 40 projects/92 component projects in 3 areas: road, railway and aviation; passing through the territory of 48 provinces and cities. Up to now, 2,021 km of expressways have been completed; about 1,700 km of expressways are under construction and investment preparation work is underway to soon start construction of about 1,400 km of expressways. Thus, the goal of completing 3,000 km by 2025 is feasible and achievable, but we cannot be subjective, especially in the coming time when the weather will still have storms, unusual changes, and disadvantages.

Experiences in recent times, especially in the work of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic, building the 500KV line 3-section Quang Trach - Pho Noi, deploying the North - South Eastern expressway in the 2017 - 2020 period... show that although the tasks and goals are difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible to achieve, if there is determination, effort, overcoming oneself, solidarity, consensus, and mobilizing combined strength, we will overcome and win. It is necessary to promote experiences to effectively carry out emulation movements, especially the emulation movement of 500 days and nights to complete 3,000 km of expressway.

Implementing the conclusions of the Steering Committee at the 13th Session, up to now, ministries, branches and localities have completed 11 tasks on time, actively implementing 28 tasks of regular direction and management and 1 task that has not yet been due. In which, localities have performed well the tasks assigned by the Steering Committee in investment preparation work such as: Ho Chi Minh City has coordinated with related provinces to report to the Prime Minister on the policy of preparing a pre-feasibility study report for the City's Ring Road 4 project; Binh Duong Provincial People's Council has adjusted the investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh project; Cao Bang Province has coordinated with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to clarify appraisal opinions on adjusting the investment policy for the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway project; Son La, Thai Binh, Lam Dong, Binh Duong provinces are preparing feasibility study reports for the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau, Ninh Binh - Hai Phong expressway projects through Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Tan Phu - Bao Loc, Bao Loc - Lien Khuong, Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh, closely following the set schedule; Ninh Binh province has approved the Ninh Binh - Hai Phong project through Ninh Binh.

On behalf of the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister commended the determination, daring to think, daring to do of the Secretaries and Chairmen of the People's Committees of the above-mentioned provinces, for the goal of promoting the development of local and national transport infrastructure to strive to achieve the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress. On behalf of the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister commended and evaluated the ministries and agencies for performing well the tasks assigned by the Steering Committee; at the same time, commended the spirit of Dak Lak province for proactively and making efforts to organize the implementation of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway project (component project No. 3) to ensure progress.

In addition, some localities need to learn from their experience in the slow implementation of site clearance for key projects. Some localities are still slow in carrying out procedures for granting mines, increasing capacity, and coordinating materials for projects in the Southern region, such as Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Vinh Long, which have not met the progress as directed by the Prime Minister, affecting the progress of project construction.

The Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to urgently implement key tasks to complete the goals of the emulation movement "500 days and nights of emulation to complete 3,000 km of expressway" launched by the Prime Minister on August 18, 2024 in Dak Lak province. At the same time, it is necessary to promote the lessons learned in the recent past as follows:

The first, lessons on management, leadership, direction, and command with the mindset of being clear, having high determination, great effort, decisive action, having a focus, and finishing each job; clearly assigning people, tasks, responsibilities, time, products, and results; results must be measurable, weighted, and counted to make them easy to check, monitor, and evaluate; strengthening inspection and supervision.

Monday, promote the strength of national solidarity, mobilize resources of the whole society, mobilize the entire political system to identify key projects as the central task; Party committees at all levels must get involved, lead and direct; authorities at all levels organize implementation; the Fatherland Front, political organizations, mass mobilization committees, according to their functions and tasks, support and coordinate with investors, project management boards, contractors, especially in site clearance work with the spirit of "first support, second support, one call, all responses, top and bottom unanimity, smooth operation"; implement 4 on-site: on-site command, on-site forces, on-site equipment, on-site logistics; main contractors coordinate and combine with local subcontractors to carry out construction to promote the advantage of understanding the terrain and natural conditions in the area, both creating jobs and helping local enterprises grow and develop; in the future, we can continue to participate in implementing large, important national projects through localities.

Tuesday, investors, construction units implementing the project must make continuous efforts, be proactive, have the courage of the transport industry and the close and effective coordination of corporations, state-owned corporations, enterprises at both central and local levels, state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, main contractors to create conditions and cooperate so that local enterprises and contractors can become subcontractors to gradually grow, with the spirit of "sharing, working together, enjoying together, winning together, developing together, having joy, happiness and pride together".

Wednesday, strengthen coordination and cooperation between forces, levels and sectors, close coordination between agencies and units to ensure scientific and effective work; must have opinions, not push and dodge.

Thursday, while working, summarize and draw lessons; build and launch a vibrant patriotic emulation movement, arouse national pride, promptly encourage and reward, create an enthusiastic working atmosphere, all for the benefit of the nation and people; media and press agencies strive to do a good job of propaganda, portray good people and good deeds at construction sites and projects, mobilize people, create consensus and unanimity to implement the Project. Timely detect and handle acts of embezzlement and corruption.

Proactively remove obstacles in site clearance

Regarding site clearance, the Prime Minister requested localities to coordinate with investors to develop a site clearance implementation plan, focusing on "critical" road locations for priority implementation.

Party committees at all levels directly direct and authorities at all levels proactively remove difficulties and obstacles, strengthen mass mobilization work to speed up site clearance for projects in line with the progress required by the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 80/CD-TTg, especially for expressway projects scheduled for completion in 2025.

Research on using sea sand for projects

Regarding construction materials, the Prime Minister requested that project management agencies take the initiative in finding material sources to serve the construction of projects to meet the required progress; closely coordinate with localities with material mines to complete procedures for granting mines to ensure the source of filling materials, not to affect the progress of projects, especially in Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City.

All provinces should proactively study the use of sea sand for projects to reduce pressure on river sand resources; promptly report to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha if there are any difficulties or problems.

Focus on removing construction materials, speeding up construction progress of projects

Regarding construction implementation, investors, contractors, and construction units have "3 shifts, 4 teams", "brave the sun, overcome the rain, and not lose to storms", "eat and sleep quickly", "work during the day and not enough, so work at night", "only discuss work, not discuss back".

The competent authorities direct investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to remove difficulties and obstacles in site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, and provision of construction material mines in the spirit of "overcoming the sun and winning the rain, only discussing work, not backtracking"; proactively sourcing building materials so as not to affect the set progress; develop a reasonable construction plan, suitable for site clearance conditions, material sources, and weather conditions; flexibly organize construction in accordance with weather conditions in areas entering the rainy season; develop response scenarios for unusual weather conditions such as storms and floods to ensure absolute safety for workers and machinery, and minimize damage caused by storms and floods; Organize construction in 3 shifts and 4 teams to complete projects in the 3,000 km list, scheduled to be completed in 2025, in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction, especially the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project (section through Dong Nai and Binh Duong), Bien Hoa - Vung Tau (Dong Nai), Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang) which are behind schedule, requiring the initiative, determination, and outstanding efforts of the competent authorities, investors, and contractors to ensure the set progress. This is a goal that must be completed.

Provinces with low construction volume such as Can Tho, Soc Trang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen need to actively and urgently review the entire implementation plan, focus on removing obstacles regarding construction materials, direct contractors to speed up construction progress in areas with available land and items not affected by material sources; review the capacity of construction contractors to promptly handle according to regulations if implementation is behind schedule.

Proposing urgent projects to repair Phong Chau bridge

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport to continue directing investors and contractors to coordinate with localities to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles in site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, supply of construction materials, ensure sufficient reserves and capacity to meet the construction progress of projects; develop a reasonable construction organization plan, organize construction in 3 shifts and 4 teams to speed up construction progress, complete the North-South expressway project in phase 2021-2025, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan in 2025 and DATP 2 Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot, Ho Chi Minh road as planned.

Deploying the selection of investors to soon start the Dau Giay - Tan Phu project; completing procedures to submit to the National Assembly for adjustment of investment policy for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau project; closely coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in appraising the pre-feasibility study report of the high-speed railway project on the North - South axis.

Urgently synthesize the opinions of the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises and relevant agencies, complete the report to the Government Standing Committee on the expansion plan of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh section of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Project according to the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha in Notice No. 400/TB-VPCP dated August 30, 2024 of the Government Office.

Urgently report to the Government Standing Committee on DATP 4 Long Thanh International Airport (CHKQT) in accordance with the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha in Notice No. 393/TB-VPCP dated August 20, 2024. This is a project that affects the progress of putting the entire Long Thanh International Airport project into operation, and so far the implementation has been very slow.

The Ministry of Transport shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to supplement the assessment of the impact of storm Yagi, floods and landslides on transport infrastructure; coordinate with the People's Committee of Phu Tho province to propose urgent projects to repair Phong Chau bridge according to the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 96/CD-TTg dated September 16, 2024.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment urgently adjusts the permitted operating hours for sand and gravel mining in riverbeds; promptly completes the approval of the environmental impact assessment report for the Ninh Binh - Hai Phong project; and guides Lang Son province on traffic land indicators for the Dong Dang - Tra Linh project.

Take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Transport (according to its functions and tasks) to guide Ben Tre and Tien Giang provinces on procedures for granting licenses for sand mining to supply key traffic projects in the Southern provinces that overlap with waterways and waterway protection corridors (if any) according to the provisions of the Law on Minerals and procedures for ensuring traffic safety according to the provisions of the Law on Inland Waterway Traffic.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall promptly complete the appraisal report of the Tan Phu - Bao Loc and Ninh Binh - Hai Phong projects through Nam Dinh and Thai Binh; speed up the procedures for appraising the feasibility study report of the high-speed railway project on the North - South axis; and adjust the investment policy of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh project; coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to promptly complete the investment preparation procedures for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 construction project in accordance with the law, promptly submit it to the National Assembly at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Strictly control the quality and progress of airport projects

The State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises continues to direct the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) to coordinate with relevant agencies to promptly complete the pre-feasibility study report on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expansion project, send it to the Ministry of Transport for synthesis and report to the Government Standing Committee; in case of difficulties, report to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha for resolution; promptly complete the procedures for selecting contractors for package J3-1, and at the same time speed up the construction progress of the remaining packages to complete the entire Ben Luc - Long Thanh project in 2025.

Direct the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to strictly control the quality and progress of airport projects; speed up the progress of selecting contractors and technical design of the remaining packages of the Long Thanh International Airport passenger terminal; complete the Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport projects in 2025...