A rest stop on the Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Highway. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thắng has asked agencies and project management boards (PMBs) to review and soon deploy bidding to select investors for rest stops on the eastern north-south expressway system.

In a document sent to concerned agencies on Monday, the Minister said that with eight approved rest stops, the PMB should proactively review and prepare documents to deploy bidding to select investors.

The investors must construct and finish the rest stops as soon as possible to serve the people.

As for the remaining rest stops on the eastern north-south expressway system, the PMBs must prepare business proposals and bidding documents eligible for appraisal and approved, to shorten the process of selecting investors and ensuring implementation progress.

The Minister also requested the Department of Transport Infrastructure to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Legal Affairs, the Department for Roads of Việt Nam, the Department for Highways of Việt Nam (DHVN) and the Transport Construction Investment Management Authority to draft a circular to replace Circular 01/2023/TT-BGTVT to perform early issuance procedures.

The circular will be a basis for selecting rest stop investors in particular and specialised road service works in general.

The DHVN will work with concerned agencies to minimise delays and speed up the progress of building rest stops in accordance with the laws.

“During the work, departments must carefully review and complete relevant legal regulations to ensure a complete legal framework. In case problems arise, they must report to the ministry's leaders to have solutions,” said Thắng.

Intelligent transportation

Regarding the intelligent transportation system (ITS), Minister Thắng requested the PMBs, with responsibility as project investors, urgently carry out investment in the construction and completion of the ITS, and the National Traffic Management Centre to ensure synchronous operation once the expressway is inaugurated and open for public use.

“The bidding process for selecting contractors must ensure transparency and thrift. Technology and equipment should be synchronous and modern. The PMBs are responsible to the minister if delays continue and project quality is not guaranteed," said Thắng.

The DHVN will preside over and work with other agencies to research and propose models and plans for the ITS National Traffic System Management Centre.

The national centre must ensure connection with local management centres on expressways, including those that have been put into operation and projects run by localities, he said.

Minister Thắng also assigned some other departments and divisions to review and advise on capital sources to invest in the ITS to ensure efficiency.

They must offer consultancy on economic-technical norms to serve the management, exploitation, operation and maintenance of the ITS. — VNS