Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspects expressway project in Mekong Delta

TPO - On March 6, in Dong Thap, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspected component project 1, Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway, and worked with leaders of provinces, cities, and related units on the progress of expressway projects in the Mekong Delta region. The region has 5 key traffic projects expected to be completed in 2025.

The Ministry of Construction informed that the Mekong Delta has 5 key traffic projects planned to be completed in 2025, including: Can Tho - Hau Giang Expressway, Hau Giang - Ca Mau, Cao Lanh - Lo Te, Lo Te - Rach Soi, Cao Lanh - An Huu (component project 1 in Dong Thap province). The above five projects have a total length of more than 207km, with an investment capital of more than 32,863 billion VND. To build these 5 traffic projects, 2.8 million m3 of various types of stone and 21.3 million m3 of sand are needed.

Working session scene. Photo: N. Anh.

The Ministry of Construction also specified the material supply situation of 7 localities in the Mekong Delta for the expressways. Of which, Tien Giang province was assigned to supply 15.9 million m3 of sand, and has been granted a certificate, qualified to exploit 4.8 million m3.

Dong Thap province was assigned to supply 13 million m3 of sand for the projects, and has been licensed and qualified to exploit 9.3 million m3 of sand to supply the projects; the province has issued a confirmation of increased reserves for exploitation of 2 sand mines. Dong Thap province also committed to supplying 3.8 million m3 of sand for the My An - Cao Lanh Project.

Besides, there are some limitations in supplying sand for highways, when the contractor assigned to the mine has not fully assessed the quality of sand in the introduced sand mine, making the process of exploiting and supplying for the project encounter many difficulties; the exploiting contractor has not complied with the design, and is late in fulfilling financial obligations.

In addition, the My An - Cao Lanh Project currently has no contractor, so Dong Thap province has no basis to carry out procedures to hand over the sand mine to the contractor.

Mr. Tran Tri Quang - Acting Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee - pointed out some difficulties and limitations in sand supply.

Mr. Tran Hong Minh - Minister of Construction - proposed that the Deputy Prime Minister consider resolving the problem of sand supply for projects, requesting to supply according to the project progress, not according to the exploitation progress specified in the license as at present. Currently, there are still problems with procedures for exploiting material mines; exploitation capacity is limited, not meeting the construction progress. During the exploitation process, many sand mines in An Giang and Dong Thap had to be temporarily stopped due to landslides, exploitation of excessive volume, excessive depth...

The Minister of Construction said that the implementation of sand mining procedures takes a long time, and localities need to focus on removing and resolving obstacles regarding material sources, especially in Tien Giang province, to supply projects with high demand such as Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 and Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway. Currently, the Ring Road 3 project is very slow compared to the plan.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting.

To ensure material sources and meet project progress, especially projects completed in 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested that project management boards and mining contractors must be honest, accurately summarize sand reserves at mines, and be responsible for reviewing material sources in localities. From there, recommendations will be made to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on specific authority. Contractors assigned to mines must comply with regulations, and any contractor who violates the regulations must be seriously handled and resolutely eliminated by the locality.

For localities, the Deputy Prime Minister requested stronger direction in the supervision stage, strict implementation procedures and proper implementation of the committed contents, making the most of the special mechanism for these projects. The Deputy Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction to review the progress of capital coordination for project implementation, to be completed before March 15.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and the working delegation conducted a field survey at the construction site of the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Component 1 Project in Dong Thap province, with a length of about 16 km, a preliminary total investment of VND 3,640 billion, with the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee as the investor.

The capital requirement for the project in 2025 is 483 billion VND (additional 350 billion VND). Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee has requested the Ministry of Finance to register the need for additional central budget capital in 2025 for the Project.

Peace Conference