Vehicles run through a section of North-South Expressway, connecting HCM City to Tiền Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has ordered the Ministry of Transport to work harder to start the construction of the first bidding packages of the North-South Expressway’s three sub-projects at the end of August.

Phúc made his order when he chaired a Government meeting on Wednesday morning to implement the National Assembly’s Resolution on adjusting the investment policy of the project of North-South Expressway in 2017-20.

The resolution, issued on June 19, said the National Assembly decided to change the investment model from Public-Private Partnership to public investment for three sub-projects to build the sections of Mai Sơn – National Highway No 45, Vĩnh Hảo – Phan Thiết and Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây.

After consulting the NA’s Economic Committee and relevant ministries, the Government’s Standing Committee on Wednesday morning agreed to assign Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể to take responsibility to carry out the sub-projects after switching to public investment.

The transport ministry’s report shows the land clearance work for the three sub-projects has reached 81.3 per cent for the 63km section of Mai Sơn – National Highway No 45; 95 per cent for the 101km section of Vĩnh Hảo – Phan Thiết and 76.8 per cent for the 99km section of Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây.

The North-South Expressway, covering 1,811km with 16 sections, will run from Hà Nội to Cần Thơ. Once it is completed, it is expected to become the key route connecting traffic across the entire country.

Several sections of the expressway are already in use. — VNS