The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Như Nguyệt bridge 2 on Friday. VNA Photo

 BẮC GIANG – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính cut the ribbon to inaugurate Như Nguyệt bridge 2 and attended a groundbreaking ceremony of a social housing project for workers in the northern province of Bắc Giang on June 16.

Construction of the bridge started in April 2022 at a total cost of over VNĐ456 billion (US$19.8 million) sourced from the provincial budget. The bridge has a total length of about 445m and a width of 16m, with two approach road sections stretching 800m. It lies on Hà Nội - Bắc Giang expressway, crossing Cầu River.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister said the bridge would help promote socio-economic development in the northeastern region in general and Bắc Giang in particular, as it serves as a gateway to the province.

He expressed his hope that after the bridge was inaugurated, people will travel more conveniently, contributing to realising the Politburo’s resolution on the development of the Red River Delta.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Prime Minister attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a second-phase social housing project for workers in Nếnh Town in Việt Yên District of Bắc Giang Province.

The project, covering a total area of up to 12.6ha, consists of 16 20-storey apartment buildings and is estimated to cost nearly VNĐ5 trillion ($212.5 million). It is expected to provide around 7,000 apartments for over 20,000 workers in the province.

In the first stage, 2,500 apartments will be delivered by the end of March 2024. Meanwhile in the second stage, more than 1,500 apartments will be built and handed over in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Prime Minister asked Bắc Giang and localities to continue allocating resources and land for social housing development projects.

Financial institutions, particularly the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies must create favourable conditions for low-income individuals and workers in industrial zones to access capital and purchase or rent social housing.

On the occasion, he called on departments, localities and businesses to join hands and fulfil the goal of building at least 1 million social housing units for low-income individuals and workers in industrial zones by 2030. VNA/VNS