Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính calls for efforts to accelerate key transport infrastructure projects at the meeting on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has called for more efforts to accelerate the progress of key transport infrastructure projects that are critical to the country’s future development and economic aspirations.

He was speaking at Friday's 10th meeting of the State Steering Committee for Critical National Transport Projects.

The meeting took place in person and online, with representatives from 46 provinces and cities where the projects are being constructed.

The PM underlined the Committee's heavy responsibilities when it took charge of 34 national projects and 86 sub-projects, including two railway and five airport projects. 

Regarding the eastern section of the North-South Expressway Project that spans from Hà Tĩnh to Khánh Hòa provinces, contractors have operated 14 out of 17 sand mines and 43 out of 55 soil mines for the construction work.

The remaining mines have not been tapped because the contractors are working on the last steps to complete procedures on land use rights transfer and land leasing.

In the section from Cần Thơ City to Cà Mau Province in the Mekong Delta, local governments have arranged 16 million cubic metres of sand supply, about three million cubic metres short of the amount needed.

Minining operations are underway, with approximately 2.7 million cubic metres delivered to construction sites. However, mining capacity is low due to controlled output and restricted operating hours.

Some other projects, such as the HCM City Ring Road Number 3, still face challenges in finding the supply of sand.

In the Long Thành International Airport Project, sub-projects No 1, 2 and 3 are under construction, adhering to the timeline. Sub-project N 4 has entered into the contractor-picking phase.

Regarding the Hữu Nghị-Chi Lăng Project, Lạng Sơn Province is handpicking contractors to kickstart the construction work.

Regarding the sections of the North-South Expressway Project that spans from Diễn Châu to Bãi Vọt and Cam Lâm to Vĩnh Hảo, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is urging investors and contractors to pick up speed to keep them on schedule.

The Cần Thơ-Hậu Giang and Hậu Giang-Cà Mau sub-projects, meanwhile, are falling behind schedule due to sand shortages.

In relation to the Nhổn-Hà Nội Station Urban Railway and Bến Thành-Suối Tiên Metro Line 1 projects, Hà Nội and HCM City are urging investors and contractors to conduct trial runs and hand in safety reports to ensure they come into operation as planned.   

Land clearance is on track in most provinces but the resettlement of local people falls behind schedule in Vạn Ninh-Cam Lộ, Hòa Liên-Túy Loan and Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu projects. 

The progress of the East-West Expressway and Ring Road projects remains sluggish overall. Tuyên Quang-Hà Giang and Cao Lãnh-An Hữu Expressway Projects are being monitored closely by contractors and investors to adhere to the timeline. 

The PM urged the MoT to enhance sand mining capacity to accelerate the eastern North-South Expressway Project. 

He also urged contractors to work more intensively to complete the Diễn Châu-Bãi Bọt and Cam Lâm-Vĩnh Hảo projects before April 30, 2024 and keep other projects, such as the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu Section of the East-West Expressway Project, on schedule.

He said Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must access the sand supply in the Mekong Delta and ensure sufficient sand for the projects in the southern region.

He called on the MoT to work with other relevant ministries to research the use of coastal sand in construction and submit a feasibility report to the Government.

Coastal sand is expected to be a solution to the sand shortages.

He also called on the Ministry of Finance to streamline procedures related to ODA loans for urban railway projects, the Bến Lức-Long Thành and Mỹ An-Cao Lãnh expressways. — VNS