The Ministry of Transport on September 1 opened some sections of the North-South Expressway in Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An provinces to facilitate people's travel during the Independence Day holiday on September 2. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked ministries and localities to speed up the progress of important national transport projects.

The PM’s Official Dispatch No 780/CĐ-TTg issued on Sunday said that the Government and project managers had given many directions to remove difficulties and obstacles, speeding up the progress of key transport projects, especially highway ones nationwide.

Investors, construction contractors and consulting units have actively worked even during holidays. Thanks to that, up to now, the whole country has 1,832km of expressways in use.

The remaining sections of the North-South Expressway, ring roads of Hà Nội, HCM City and expressways connecting northwest, Central Highlands, southwest and Mekong Delta regions are being actively built.

On behalf of the Government, PM Chính highly appreciated and praised ministries and localities for their efforts and determination to bring the works to the right destination with high quality.

In order to have about 3,000km of expressways by 2025 and 5,000km of expressways by 2030 as targeted in the 13th Party Congress’s Resolution, the PM requested the Ministry of Transport, provincial and municipal chairmen to timely encourage and reward organisations and individuals, create a new atmosphere, and enhance the exciting spirit for work at important national transport projects.

Concerned agencies and local authorities at all levels should make more efforts, remove difficulties, handle existing problems in site clearance, technical infrastructure works, exploitation and supply of construction materials.

They must speed up construction progress, soon complete and put into operation the projects on schedule and ensure quality.

They are also responsible for reviewing connections between different expressways to promote efficiency and socio-economic development of regions, localities and the whole country.

The PM requested the Minister of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with the Minister of Finance to urgently issue documents guiding ministries, central agencies and localities on capital adjustments for tasks and projects of the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Programme and the Medium-term Public Investment Plan for the period 2021-25.

The two programmes have been allocated capital from the State budget this year according to Resolution No 93/2023/QH15.

The adjustments must ensure maximum disbursement of allocated capital and immediately resolve problems related to capital sources for the Eastern North-South Expressway Project and other key projects.

The capital adjustments must not affect the projects’ progress, and should be completed before the end of this week and reported to the PM.

The Minister of Finance is assigned to closely coordinate with the Minister of Planning and Investment to promptly disburse the allocated adjusted capital this year, ensuring the required progress and compliance with regulations.

The Government Office will regularly monitor and inspect the implementation of the Official Dispatch No 780/CĐ-TTgand report to PM Chính monthly. — VNS