HÀ NỘI — In no surprise to anyone, infrastructure projects across Hà Nội are lagging behind schedule.

Twenty-one of 55 current key projects in the capital is expected to be behind by 2020, said Nguyễn Mạnh Quyền, director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment.

According to the director, the total investment of the 55 projects exceeds VNĐ487 billion (US$21.2 million). Twenty-six of them are invested by the State budget and Official Development Assistance (ODA) and 27 are under public-private partnership. Two others, Medical complex of Hà Nội Heart Hospital in Tây Hồ District and software technology park in Long Biên District are run by private sector investment.

As of June this year, four projects have been completed. They are all ODA projects, namely Ô Đông Mác - Nguyễn Khoái flyover, Cổ Linh flyover, Nhân Chính Park and the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The progress of 17 projects has been accelerated while 34 others are in the process of completing investment procedure.

The expected delay is due to obstacles in land clearance, amended design and prolonged PPP procedures. Several projects are also waiting for Government approval.

Build-Operate projects have been delayed because investors of several projects have had to relocate the project location or look for another land lot.

Quyền said that this the city authorities would take measures to accelerate land clearance work. Chairmen of districts and towns must hold responsibility for land clearance work deadlines.

Sectors have been urged to allocate funds and make reforms to administrative procedures.

The city’s People’s Committee has asked investors to monitor contractors in construction progress and report construction obstacles to the committee.

Earlier in May this year, the city’s Department of Transport named and shamed traffic congestion hotspots, many of which are due to delayed projects. — VNS