A section of the North-South expressway crossing Ha Tinh province. (Photo: VNA)

In the official dispatch, sent to Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of 30 centrally-run cities and provinces nationwide and the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Industry and Trade, as well as the General Director of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the PM noted that site clearance, resettlement and technical infrastructure relocation for a number of projects have still lagged behind schedule, affecting their progress.

Particularly, the affected projects include many that are scheduled to complete in 2025 such as the eastern North-South Expressway in the 2021-2025 period, Tuyen Quang-Ha Giang, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, and Hoa Lien-Tuy Loan expressways, Ho Chi Minh Belt Road No.3, component projects No.1 and 3 of Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot expressway.

In order to complete the projects on time, the PM asked leaders of relevant localities to focus on mobilising the general strength of the whole political system, organisations and unions in the site clearance work, work directly with local residents to flexibly deal with their requests, and coordinate with investors to prioritise site clearance in major locations.

For projects that are expected to be completed in 2025, it is necessary to speed up the construction of resettlement areas and the relocation of high-voltage power line systems, striving to hand over the ground to the projects by August 30, 2024.

Specifically, provinces and cities namely Tuyen Quang, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Binh Duong were asked to directed departments, sectors and localities to mobilise maximum resources to cope with difficulties and problems so as to hand over the entire sites for the eastern North-South expressway in the 2021 – 2025 period, Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang, Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan, Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot, and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressways, and Belt Road No. 3 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Related cities and provinces were requested to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and EVN to hasten the relocation of high-voltage power line systems, especially in localities with heavy workloads.

In the official dispatch, the Government leader mentioned specific tasks for particular localities to focus on.

He stressed the need for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and EVN to shorten procedures to ensure the completion of the relocation of power lines in projects that are scheduled to finish in 2025 within August.

The Ministry of Transport was ordered to direct investors and contractors to coordinate closely with localities and relevant agencies in site clearance and relocation of technical works for projects.

The PM assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the Government Office and the Ministry of Transport to direct and monitor the implementation of this dispatch, and report matters beyond their authority to the PM.