The Ministry of Transport yesterday started the construction of three major projects in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang including a section of Ho Chi Minh Highway, upgrading the highway No.61 and three bridges on the highway No. 80 of the plan to improve national road network.
The section of Ho Chi Minh Highway running through four places of Rach Soi-Ben Nhat-Go Quao-Vinh Thuan is designed with the length of 65.3 kilometer and four lanes. The section has investment of over VND4, 200 billion (US$198.3 million) from the government’s bond.
The section is scheduled to be finished within 17 months.
The second project upgrading section Cai Tu-Go Quao of the highway No. 61 with total investment of VND417 billion (US$19.7 million) is also taken from the government’s bond. It is planned to be finished in 2015.
The third is the transport’s credit plan for improving the national road network, building dilapidated bridges nationwide with total spending of over VND8,200 (US$387.3 million) funded by JICA’s official development assistance and reciprocal capital injections. Three of bridges Rach Soi, Doc Dinh and Ton Chat in the highway No.80 in Vinh Thanh District of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho worth VND108 billion (US$5,100,840) will be built by Thang Long Construction and Mechanism Company and Tasco in 15 months.
On behalf of contractor, Hoang Quoc Them, chairman of the board of governors of Hanoi traffic joint venture company, pledged to carry out the construction on schedule to contribute to the Mekong Delta’s socioeconomic development.
Lam Van Hoang, director of the Ho Chi Minh Highway Project Management Unit said that these projects were hoped to create an important breakthrough in promoting the region’s industrialization and modernization process.
Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The stressed that within two years the three projects must be done; therefore, project management unit boards should focus on construction progress, safety and quality.
He said that the ministry would fine and cut the contract with contractors if any construction runs behind the schedule.
Authorities of Can Tho city and Kien Giang province were asked to work closely with the ministry in compensation to residents who live in contrustion areas.
