An artist's impression of the Mỹ Thuận Bridge 2. The project construction is expected to begin in 2020. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

VĨNH LONG — Nguyễn Đức Kiên, deputy chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, has asked Tiền Giang and Vĩnh Long provinces to complete land clearance and compensation for residents in areas near the Mỹ Thuận 2 Bridge project by the year-end.

A delegation from the NA committee led by Kiên met with authorities from the two Mekong (Cửu Long) Delta provinces on Friday in Vĩnh Long Province.

Speaking at the meeting, Kiên asked the Project Management Board No 7 under the Ministry of Transport Ministry to organise bidding to select investors to begin construction of two approach roads before the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday which falls in late January.

He asked Vĩnh Long Province to push up the process of capital allocation for land compensation and resettlement assistance for affected households by the end of the year.

Tiền Giang Province was told to speed up the disbursement of allocated capital of more than VNĐ300 billion (US$12.9 million) for those works.

Trần Hoàng Tựu, deputy chairman of Vĩnh Long Province’s People’s Committee, said that 117 households were affected by the project, including 25 households that have to be resettled because their land had to be completely cleared for the project.

Total compensation for land and resettlement assistance is estimated at VNĐ93 billion ($4 million).

Tiền Giang Province’s Department of Transport said about 317 households would be affected by the project, mostly in Cái Bè District’s An Hữu and Hòa Hưng communes.

Compensation payments to affected households in the two provinces are expected to end in November and the land will be handed over near the end of the year.

The Mỹ Thuận Bridge 2 project is part of a section of the North-South expressway project construction.

The project includes the 1.9km-long bridge and two approach roads with total length of over 4.7km.

It will start at An Thái Trung Intersection in Tiền Giang Province’s Cái Bè District, and will end at the intersection of National Highway 80 in Vĩnh Long City’s Tân Hòa Commune.

Total investment for the project is more than VNĐ5 trillion ($215.5 million) funded by the State budget in the medium-term public investment plan for 2016-20.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Nhật said the two provinces must ensure the bridge's completion schedule because of the project's importance.

The Ministry of Transport will also organise bidding for the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ Expressway project to select investors and ensure that construction starts early next year.

The expressway and the Mỹ Thuận Bridge 2 are expected to be completed at the same time to enhance connectivity between HCM City and cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta. — VNS