Completed and operational, 20 projects have been introduced, with nine of them being high-speed road projects covering a length of 475km. This elevates the total length of operational highways nationwide to nearly 1,900 km. Image: Internet

Increasing the total length of highways to nearly 1,900 km

Speaking at the conference summarizing the work of 2023 and deploying the plan for 2024 of the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that in 2023, the domestic and global situation had mixed opportunities with difficulties and challenges. Vietnam, as a developing country with a transitioning economy, modest scale, high openness, and limit ed resistance to external shocks, faced specific challenges. Meanwhile, the transportation sector, with wide-ranging management responsibilities, large capital sources, and numerous projects spanning from North to South, requires comprehensive and effective management and operation. Despite the difficulties and heavy tasks, under the leadership of the Party, the management of the State, and its own efforts, the transportation sector has completed its tasks and plans for 2023.

The MOT has timely resolved obstacles, addressed difficulties and challenges, and effectively handled arising issues, such as ensuring regular materials for filling and foundation; clearing the site for the My Thuan 2 bridge project; adjusting the Phu Tho - Tuyen Quang highway project; promoting the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport; and innovating management at the Vietnam Railways Corporation. With the spirit of "overcoming sunshine, triumphing over rain, not losing to the pandemic," and "seizing opportunities, working urgently, working continuously through holidays and Tet."

In particular, the implementation of investment in transportation infrastructure, important national projects, and key projects in the transportation sector in 2023 were bright spots with many newly approved projects, new commencements, as well as completion and commissioning of many expressways and airports.

According to Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, 2023 has indeed been a year of many breakthroughs in investment in the development of transportation infrastructure, with the commencement of 26 projects, including the expedited commencement of six important national projects within one year compared to the usual procedural process, and the first simultaneous online commencement of the East Phase 2 North-South Expressway project at 12 bridge points for 12 component projects. The commencement of highway projects, East-West axis highways, urban ring roads in Hanoi, HCM City, the commencement of the Long Thanh International Airport terminal, and terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Completed and put into operation were 20 projects, including nine highway projects with a total length of 475km, raising the total length of highways put into operation nationwide to nearly 1,900 km.

Disbursed nearly VND100 trillion in public investment

In 2023, despite being allocated a record public investment of over VND94 trillion, the highest ever (1.7 times higher than in 2022), along with more than VND19.9 trillion for economic sector funding for maintenance of transportation infrastructure, the MOT continued to lead and be one of the units with a high disbursement rate.

Assessing this result, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong said that the allocation of the entire capital right from the beginning of the year reflected the high determination of the Party's leadership of the transportation sector as well as units within the sector. Up to now, the MOT remains the leading unit in the country in terms of public investment disbursement, with an estimated completion of over 95% of the plan for the whole year.

Transportation activities continue to maintain stable growth, associated with a sharp reduction in administrative procedures, fees, and the promotion of information technology applications. By the end of November 2023, cargo volume increased by 12.9%, cargo turnover increased by 10.5% compared to the same period, passenger volume increased by 11.5%, and passenger turnover increased by 23.9% compared to the same period.

Regarding the plan and targets for 2024, Minister Nguyen Van Thang shared that the transportation sector continued to set a goal to strive for disbursement of over 95% of the 2024 plan assigned by the Prime Minister. In particular, the transport sector strives to have the competent authority approve the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis and is expected to complete the commissioning of two component projects, namely the Dien Chau - Bai Vot and Cam Lam - Vinh Hao sections of the East Phase 2017 - 2020 North-South Expressway project, raising the total length of highways put into operation to 2,021 km (including 129 km of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao expressways put into operation in 2023).

In addition, the MOT has set several other targets, such as improving the quality of preparation for investment in projects and completing the procedures to commence 19 projects in 2024; striving to have the competent level approve the investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis; accelerating the progress of preparation for investment in important national railway lines such as: Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Long Thanh - Thu Thiem, and Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong. Simultaneously, coordinating and supporting localities to complete documents to commence 11 expressway projects assigned to local authorities.