Several traffic projects are running behind schedule in Ho Chi Minh City due to delayed site clearance, lengthy procedures and contractors’ inabilities, resulting in much waste and hindrance in people’s daily lives.
One such project is the upgrading of the 4.8 kilometer stretch of Luy Ban Bich-Tan Hoa Street which runs across Districts 6, 11 and Tan Phu.
It had been approved by the City People’s Committee at a cost of about VND860 billion (US$41 million) and expected to be complete within three year, i.e. 2010. However the work was halted after cost prices escalated and delay in site clearance.
Similarly, a project to build roads connecting with Phu My Bridge at a cost of VND1.44 trillion ($68 million) has also been running at a snails pace.
Other works like construction of the Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi outer belt road, upgrading of the Hanoi Highway and dredging of the Ba Bo Canal are also facing problems of site clearance.
According to experts, the slow construction process of so many traffic projects can be explained. One of them is that the bidding process chose contractors on low bids regardless of their capabilities.
Some districts authorities have not monitored progress of projects so as to follow a schedule and time plan. Investors are quick to blame delayed site clearance without taking any responsibility.
Nguyen Huu Tin, deputy chairman of the City People’s Committee has ordered relevant departments to resolve all issues related to site clearance to ensure projects speed up. District authorities must monitor progress of projects periodically and immediately chastise contractors for any delays.
