More drastic in implementing key projects in the transport sector

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for National Important Projects and Works, Key Projects of the Transport Sector, chaired the 6th meeting of the Steering Committee.

The Government Office has just issued Notice No. 311/TB-VPCP dated August 7, 2023, concluding the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Steering Committee, at the 6th meeting of the State Steering Committee for National Important Projects and Works, Key Projects of the Transport Sector.

The announcement stated that after 3 times of adding to the Project List, up to now, there are 25 projects with 75 component projects under the tasks of the Steering Committee. The amount of work that needs to be directed, managed, organized, deployed and implemented is very large.

The rapid and effective implementation of projects will contribute significantly to economic growth, especially in the current difficult conditions. This requires each member of the Steering Committee to make more efforts, focus, be more determined, stronger and more responsible to contribute to speeding up the progress of project implementation.

Members of the Steering Committee must be exemplary in implementing administrative discipline, comply with the Steering Committee's Working Regulations, and be responsible for fully participating in the Steering Committee's meetings. The Government Office monitors and reports to the Prime Minister to remove from the Steering Committee cases of consecutive absences of 2 or more times without valid reasons, and at the same time consider responsibility according to the regulations of the Party and the Government.

The North-South Eastern Expressway Project in the 2021-2025 period has reached 86% completion.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Transport, ministries, branches, localities, Project Management Boards, consulting units, and contractors in the implementation of National Important and Key Projects of the Transport sector.

Ministries, branches and localities have taken drastic measures to carry out assigned tasks, with the following outstanding results: site clearance has been completed to meet the construction schedule of the East-West Expressway projects, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 and Hanoi Capital Region Ring Road 4; the North-South Eastern Expressway Project in the 2021-2025 period has reached 86%; site clearance for Passenger Terminal T3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport has been completed; the allocation of construction material mines for the North-South Expressway Project in the 2021-2025 period has progressed well after receiving instructions from the Prime Minister; has completed procedures and started construction of key expressway projects such as Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot, Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 and Hanoi Capital Ring Road 4, bringing the total number of kilometers of expressway construction started since the beginning of the year to 1,332km.

The North-South Expressway section Mai Son-National Highway 45 has a total length of more than 63.37km, passing through the two provinces of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa and was inaugurated on April 29.

The Prime Minister commended the provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thai Binh, and Binh Phuoc for their proactiveness in preparing for investment projects. He also welcomed the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) for its progress in implementing the Long Thanh International Airport project. However, the Prime Minister reminded ACV to make more efforts to achieve the set schedule.

Not meeting the progress of handing over the site for construction

The Prime Minister's Conclusion Notice clearly stated that, in addition to the above results, there are still some shortcomings and limitations affecting the Project's progress that need to be overcome.

Compensation, support and resettlement: Some localities have not yet implemented site clearance and site handover for construction according to the plan. Site clearance is a difficult and complicated step, a critical path and bottleneck affecting the progress of project completion. The later it is, the more difficult and complicated it becomes, because the remaining area is mainly residential land, relocation of graves and technical infrastructure (high voltage power lines, telecommunication cables, etc.).

To effectively implement and speed up the progress, it is necessary to mobilize the entire political system under the direct direction of the Provincial Party Secretary and City Party Committee (Head of the Steering Committee for Site Clearance) to carry out compensation, support and resettlement work; it is necessary to focus on propaganda and mobilization of the people, directly exchange and listen to people's opinions; prioritize on-site resettlement, resettlement areas must be prepared early, with sufficient infrastructure with the principle that the new place of residence must be better than or at least equal to the old place of residence.

Regarding common construction materials: Localities have implemented procedures to grant mines and increase the capacity of material mines for some projects that have not met construction progress requirements.

The Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities to review issues related to the allocation of material mines, ensuring compliance with the directions and Resolutions of the Government and the Prime Minister; and to be responsible before the law, inspection and examination agencies and the Prime Minister for the allocation of mines in violation of regulations.

Investment preparation, adjustment of investment policies and investment projects in some projects are still slow: The Prime Minister requested that procedures in investment preparation must be simple and quick, without any bottlenecks. The authority of any ministry, branch or agency must be proactive and active in resolving work within its functions, tasks and powers, without waiting, pushing or avoiding work within its assigned authority and responsibilities.

The consultation and decision-making shall be in accordance with the Government's working regulations and the Prime Minister's direction in Official Dispatch No. 280/CD-TTg dated April 20, 2023 (ministries, branches and agencies consulted are responsible for responding on time, with clear opinions; do not respond generally, lack responsibility or avoid responsibility; in case the prescribed time limit has passed and the consulted ministry or agency does not respond or is slow to respond, it shall be determined that it agrees with the opinions and proposals of the consultation agency in accordance with regulations, and must strictly implement the regulations and this Regulation).

Investment capital: The policy of allocating capital for projects has been agreed upon, however, implementation is still facing difficulties or many localities are still lacking initiative, waiting and "relying" on the central government.

The Prime Minister requested ministries and branches to be proactive, active and flexible in allocating capital to implement projects; localities and investment management agencies must be dynamic, creative, not waiting, self-mobilizing, balancing their own resources to focus investment capital on key transport projects. Absolutely no embezzlement, corruption, or waste in arranging and allocating investment capital.

The management capacity of some investors and contractors is still limited: Some contractors have not fully mobilized human resources, machinery, financial resources, and have not performed well in internal work, affecting construction progress and disbursement.

The Prime Minister requested that investors absolutely not divide bid packages, inspect and supervise implementation, fight against negativity, embezzlement and waste; required consulting contractors and construction contractors to: promote a sense of responsibility, carry out work transparently, promote creativity, increase investment in modern equipment and machinery, improve management capacity to implement projects to ensure progress, quality, technical-aesthetic, safety, and environmental protection; not to "buy bids" or "sell bids."

Some key tasks

In the Announcement, the Prime Minister also directed a number of key tasks for projects in the coming time. Specifically:

For the project groups currently preparing for investment: For the projects Dong Dang-Tra Linh, Huu Nghi-Chi Lang, Hoa Binh-Moc Chau-Son La, Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh, Ninh Binh-Nam Dinh-Thai Binh-Hai Phong: the localities (Cao Bang, Lang Son, Hoa Binh, Son La, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh and Binh Phuoc) proactively, together with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, urgently complete the investment preparation procedures for the assigned projects.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Transport continue to closely coordinate, guide and support localities and speed up the appraisal of projects, including investment projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) method.

The progress of the component projects of the Hanoi Capital Region’s Ring Road 4 through Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces is currently very slow. The People’s Committees of Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces need to make more efforts; urgently establish construction drawings; proactively and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Construction in appraising documents; organize the selection of contractors to start construction of the component projects in the provinces in September this year.

For the group of projects under investment: Projects completed and put into operation in 2023 (3 North-South Expressway projects in the East phase 2017-2020: National Highway 45-Nghi Son, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, My Thuan 2 Bridge and My Thuan-Can Tho project): The Ministry of Transport directs contractors to focus all resources, take advantage of favorable weather conditions, organize construction in "3 shifts" to put into operation on schedule; resolutely not to be behind schedule.

Eastern North-South Expressway Project, Phase 2021-2025: Currently, the progress of site clearance is slower than required; localities need to urgently complete the conversion of forest use purposes, accelerate the relocation of technical infrastructure works, especially high-voltage power lines; must build and complete resettlement areas in September this year as a basis for completing all site clearance work in 2023.

The Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of the provinces to direct the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out the steps, order and procedures for exploiting construction materials to ensure compliance with the instructions of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (including land procedures), avoiding the occurrence of administrative procedures.

At the same time, establish a Working Group including local authorities, investors, and contractors to negotiate with owners on land transfer and lease prices to ensure they are consistent with the compensation price levels prescribed by the state, to prevent speculation, price increases, and price pressure; and to have sanctions to handle cases of intentional price increases, "price pressure," and land speculation in mining areas.

Projects Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, Hanoi Capital Region Ring Road 4: The Prime Minister requested localities to continue to carry out compensation, support, and resettlement work to ensure progress according to the Government's schedule (basically complete the handover of the entire site before December 31, 2023); direct contractors to immediately implement procedures related to the exploitation of construction material mines; organize work with localities with construction material mines to agree on locations, reserves, and implement procedures for granting mines to construction contractors.

Regarding the Long Thanh International Airport Project, the Prime Minister requested the Ministries, the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, ACV and agencies to strictly implement the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha in Notices No. 162/TB-VPCP dated April 28, 2023, No. 193/TB-VPCP dated May 24, 2023, No. 215/TB-VPCP dated June 8, 2023, including completing the selection of contractors for the passenger terminal package to start construction this August.

Regarding the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Project, the Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committees to direct and thoroughly resolve difficulties, strive to complete and put into operation the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station route by the end of 2023 and the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien route in early 2024; mobilize all resources, urgently deploy investment in the construction of the remaining railway routes according to the plan to meet the socio-economic development needs of the two cities.

Organize "3 shifts 4 shifts" to ensure progress

The conclusion stated that ministries, branches and localities need to be more proactive and determined, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles; reducing administrative procedures, shortening implementation time, and resolutely implementing the principle of handling work within the right authority, without shirking or avoiding.

In particular, the Ministry of Transport directed investors and relevant agencies to resolutely urge contractors to concentrate all resources, take advantage of favorable weather conditions, organize "3 shifts" construction to ensure the committed construction progress and meet the disbursement plan; focus on quality management, aesthetics, labor safety; resolutely handle weak contractors who violate contract progress in accordance with regulations.

Resolutely direct contractors to coordinate with localities to promptly complete procedures for exploiting construction material mines so that the mines that have been submitted can be exploited at the end of July and early August. Survey and add mines that meet the requirements of reserves, quality and favorable land procedures to the construction material survey dossier for the project (if needed) and complete procedures for the remaining mines no later than next October. This is a prerequisite and the biggest bottleneck to complete the North-South Eastern Expressway Project in the 2021-2025 period on schedule.

Consideration of 6 provinces to increase capacity of licensed sand mines

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and coordinate with ministries and advisory agencies to submit to the Government for consideration and amendment of Resolution No. 18/NQ-CP dated February 11, 2022; in which the People's Committees of the provinces (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa) are allowed to decide to increase the capacity of licensed sand mines that are in operation and still have an exploitation period as applied to sand mines being exploited in the Mekong Delta region; stipulate that the use of material mines included in the Construction Material Survey File (after review and supplementation) serving the expressway project is permitted to provide for the construction of resettlement areas serving the site clearance of the expressway project; stipulate that localities are responsible for strict management, ensuring that materials are only used for the construction of resettlement areas.

Urgently review and promptly amend according to authority and propose if exceeding authority the procedures for granting quarries of soil, stone, sand, gravel, common materials for the construction of traffic routes... according to the principle of reducing administrative procedures, not prolonging time, causing congestion, wasting resources and causing inconvenience to people and businesses. Licensing must be quick, convenient, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries, causing frustration among public opinion, people and businesses.

At the same time, urgently synthesize and review the 5-year national land use plan 2021-2025 of provinces and cities, on that basis propose harmonization solutions, identify specific priority criteria, must ensure enough land to build important national projects, key transport projects; complete in this third quarter...

According to Vietnam+