A section of the North-South Expressway in the second phase of f2021-25 is under construction. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HÀ NỘI — Eight sub-projects out of 12 to build the North-South Expressway in the 2021-25 period are reportedly behind schedule due to difficulties in site clearance and a lack of construction material sources.

The behind-schedule sub-projects include Bãi Vọt-Hàm Nghi; Hàm Nghi-Vũng Áng; Quảng Ngãi-Hoài Nhơn; Hoài Nhơn-Quy Nhơn, Quy Nhơn-Chí Thạnh, Chí Thạnh-Vân Phong, Cần Thơ-Hậu Giang and Hậu Giang-Cà Mau.

According to a report from the Construction Investment Management Department under the Ministry of Transport, as of September 20, the land clearance for the sub-projects to build the expressway reached 92.5 per cent.

The construction work was implemented on 613.6km out of the total 721.5 km of the second phase expressway, reaching 85 per cent of the plan.

Causes

The department highlighted several causes for the delays. The slow construction of resettlement areas compared to the planned schedule was a significant factor.

The provinces of Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau and Hậu Giang, and Cần Thơ City through which the expressway passes, only completed 56 out of 147 resettlement areas for local people whose land was taken to build the expressway.

Furthermore, the relocation of complex technical infrastructure works, especially the high voltage power system, was not finished as planned, according to the department.

The capacity of sand mines currently being exploited in the central province of Hà Tĩnh (where the expressway’s section of Bãi Vọt-Hàm Nghi is located) did not meet the demand for treating soft soil for that section.

Investor reports indicated that coordination between local component projects was challenging due to unclear procedures. Investors were unsure about the procedures to be applied for each sub-project or for the entire project.

Solutions

In response, the ministry has instructed the People’s Committees of the localities through which the expressway runs to accelerate land clearance activities, address issues in building the resettlement areas for locals, and ensure a sufficient supply of construction materials for the expressway.

Localities have also been advised to report difficulties beyond the ministry’s capacity to the ministry itself, so it can report to the Government and the Prime Minister during steering committee meetings.

The ministry has asked the sub-project management boards to collaborate with contractors and localities to open new sand mines for the expressway construction by October at the latest.

Additionally, the ministry has directed the project management boards to ensure contractors begin building bridges and underground tunnels in line with roadbed construction progress, ensuring synchronisation and continuity throughout the expressway.

The project management boards have been instructed to take strict action against contractors who do not adhere to the agreed progress as per the contract, as stated by the department.

The expressway, with a total length of 2,063km, when completed, will span from the northern border province of Lạng Sơn to the southernmost province of Cà Mau. 

It will traverse 32 provinces and cities, connecting four key economic regions, including the two major economic hubs – Hà Nội and HCM City. — VNS