Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (centre) launched the groundbreaking process for the three provincial road projects in the northern province of Bắc Ninh on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

BẮC NINH — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Sunday attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the provincial roads 295C and 285B connecting the northern city of Bắc Ninh with the new National Highway No.3, and provincial road 277B connecting with Hà Bắc 2 bridge and Ring Road 4.

With a total length of about 20km, the roads will connect the northeastern part of Bắc Ninh Province with the national highway system, creating favourable traffic conditions with the capital city of Hà Nội, as well as the neighbouring provinces of Bắc Giang and Thái Nguyên.

With Bắc Ninh Province as the investor, the project has a total investment capital of VNĐ1.496 trillion (US$63.13 million), about VNĐ 900 billion sourced from the State budget as part of the socio-economic recovery programme and the rest from the provincial budget.

The province plans to complete land clearance in 2023 and aims to begin the construction simultaneously throughout the entire route by the end of 2023 and complete the project in 2025.

PM Chính said infrastructure had been deemed one of the three breakthrough development strategies set out by the 13th National Party Congress, and this agenda was even more important to industrial provinces like Bắc Ninh.

The investment project of Bắc Ninh's provincial roads would also help enhance internal and regional connectivity, create new development spaces, new industrial zones, new urban areas, new service areas, and generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local people.

This project would also contribute to Bắc Ninh's role as a satellite city of Hà Nội, helping to reduce the burden on the capital city and solve many issues such as transportation, housing, environment, etc.

PM Chính called on the province to focus on completing land clearance, stabilising the lives and livelihoods of local people, and ensuring that those who give up their land for the project would have better or equivalent living conditions in their new homes.

He also asked all relevant units to strive to finish the project by the end of 2023, one year earlier than scheduled to soon contribute to the province's development.

Social housing

PM Chính presented gifts to construction staff working on the social housing project in Yên Phong District, Bắc Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

The same day, PM Chính and the Government delegation visited a social housing project meant for workers at Thuỵ Hoà and Yên Trung communes, Yên Phong District, Bắc Ninh Province.

According to reports, all apartments in the project have 2-3 bedrooms, with a selling price of around VNĐ13 million ($548) per sq.m, and a maximum selling price of about VNĐ1 billion ($42,200) per apartment. Buyers can borrow around 70 per cent of the apartment's value.

Currently, Bắc Ninh has about 400,000 workers working at 12 industrial parks. The province has 51 projects with 40,000 social housing units to be completed in the near future.

During the meeting with the PM, the investor reported on some difficulties and made some proposals regarding the planning of social housing projects, regulations on price ceilings for projects in the same area, and continued reform of procedures for homebuyers (procedures could be conducted even on weekends to make it easier for workers who need to work during the weekdays).

PM Chính noted that the Government was paying heavy attention to housing for workers, with the issuance of the project on building one million social housing apartments.

He asked the PM's task force on addressing challenges in implementing real estate projects, which is headed by the Minister of Construction Nguyễn Thanh Nghị, to work with Bắc Ninh Province to see what can be done about the standing issues.

The State Bank of Việt Nam was asked to review borrowing procedures so that people could get easier access to credits to buy social housing. — VNS