Tra Dinh Bridge: Extending the project, increasing the total investment

The functional sector proposed to adjust the total investment of the Tra Dinh bridge project (Que Phu commune, Que Son) from 51.8 billion VND to 61.4 billion VND to completely resolve the unfinished items of the project.

At the Tra Dinh bridge project, the slope of the bridge and the two roads leading to the bridge are very large, making it difficult for people to travel and posing many potential risks. Photo: A.N — At the Tra Dinh bridge project, the slope of the bridge and the two roads leading to the bridge are very large, making it difficult for people to travel and posing many potential risks. Photo: AN

Many unfinished projects

The Tra Dinh Bridge project was approved in principle with a total investment of more than 51.8 billion VND, implementation period from 2017 - 2019; of which the provincial budget supports 30 billion VND, the rest from Que Son district budget.

Although the Provincial People's Committee agreed to extend the project implementation period to 2020, however, up to now, the project has only completed the bridge and service road items (accepted by the Department of Transport); the approach road items at both ends of the bridge, about 1,000m, drainage system, markers, and signs, have not been implemented. The project has been prolonged, many items have not been implemented, significantly affecting people's lives, causing much public outrage.

According to the report, up to now, the value of the completed project work (including bridge construction costs and other consulting costs) is about 37.7 billion VND; the capital allocated for the project is more than 35.9 billion VND, of which the provincial budget is 30 billion VND and the district budget is more than 5.9 billion VND.

Why adjust?

Preparing content for the 20th session of the 10th Provincial People's Council (scheduled to take place on January 23), the Provincial People's Council's Economic - Budget Committee recently had a working session with the Department of Planning and Investment to listen to reports on a number of related contents, including the report on adjusting the investment policy of the Tra Dinh bridge project.

According to the Department of Planning and Investment, during the implementation process, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue source has been insufficient, and the district budget has not been balanced according to the approved capital structure. Therefore, the District People's Committee has only started implementing the bridge and public road sections.

The Department of Planning and Investment said that the extension of the project implementation period leads to an increase in the total investment. Therefore, to fully implement the project and ensure the investment target, adjusting the investment policy is necessary.

The Department of Planning and Investment also said that the reason for the increase in the total investment of the project is to change the design plan of the approach road at both ends of the bridge to suit the terrain and annual flooding situation according to the opinions of the community; at the same time, it is necessary to update the prices of materials, labor, and construction machinery according to current regulations of the law on construction, leading to an increase in investment costs.

Accordingly, the project is proposed to increase the total investment from more than 51.8 billion VND to more than 61.4 billion VND (an increase of more than 9.5 billion VND). Specifically, the cost of building the access road to the bridge is adjusted from 10.4 billion VND to 18.5 billion VND; the cost of compensation for site clearance is adjusted from 2.4 billion VND to 3.2 billion VND; the cost of consulting, project management, and contingency is increased by about 700 million VND.

The project is also proposed to adjust the implementation time until the end of 2025 to ensure the construction time to complete the remaining items and complete the handover procedures for use.

Thus, the capital structure after adjustment is that the provincial budget supports 38 billion VND (an increase of 8 billion VND); the remaining part of the total investment of more than 23.4 billion VND is balanced by the Que Son district budget. The Department of Planning and Investment said that the additional adjustment from the provincial budget (savings) to support 8 billion VND has been agreed by the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council.

Que Son district needs commitment

According to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 52 of the Law on Public Investment, Group C projects have a duration of no more than 3 years. In case of failure to meet the time limit, the Provincial People's Council shall decide on the time for allocating capital to implement the project for projects using local budget capital. Therefore, for the Tra Dinh Bridge project (belonging to Group C project), the extension of the capital allocation time shall be decided by the Provincial People's Council.

At a recent working session with the Department of Planning and Investment, members of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council basically agreed to adjust the total investment of the Tra Dinh bridge project, but it is necessary to supplement procedures and pay attention to some related issues.

According to Mr. Lam Quang Thanh - Deputy Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council, Que Son district has not really paid attention to and determined to implement the Tra Dinh bridge project. Therefore, if the investment policy is adjusted, Que Son district needs to have a clear commitment. "The Department of Planning and Investment must work with Que Son district on capital commitment, otherwise the old situation will easily repeat itself" - Mr. Thanh noted.

Mr. Nguyen Duc - Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council said that, from a management perspective, the Department of Planning and Investment is responsible for the prolonged Tra Dinh bridge project, although the department has actively advised and directed the project many times... "In the existence of the project, there is the shadow of the responsibility of the Department of Planning and Investment, even the monitoring and supervision of the Economic - Budget Committee is also slow" - Mr. Duc said.

Mr. Nguyen Duc said that the members of the Economic - Budget Committee basically agreed to adjust the total investment of the Tra Dinh Bridge project and proposed to soon complete the procedures to submit to the Provincial People's Council. In particular, there should be a commitment from the People's Committee of Que Son district on resources and progress; consider including a specific deadline for project completion in the resolution.

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