VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has estimated the Mekong Delta region would need around VND87 trillion (nearly US$4 billion) in 2016-2020 to invest in important infrastructure projects to fuel economic growth.

The ministry said in its recent report that VND64 trillion of the total funding would go to road projects, VND6.5 trillion to waterway developments and VND1.5 trillion to aviation facilities.

Hefty funding is being sought for construction of My Thuan-Can Tho expressway, Dai Ngai bridge linking Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces, the second phase of a coastal road in the delta’s southern part as well as upgrade and widening of national highways.

Regarding inland waterway projects, huge capital will be required to dredge the sections of Ho Chi Minh-Ca Mau, Ho Chi Minh-Kien Luong, Moc Hoa-Ha Tien, Rach Gia-Ca Mau and Quan Lo-Phung Hiep.

The ministry is raising money for building Tan Chau, Binh Long, Tac Cau and Ong Doc ports; upgrading Cai Cui into a national general port and constructing a major coal port for thermal power plants in the east and west of the region.

The ministry will upgrade Can Tho, Phu Quoc, Ca Mau and Rach Gia airports to enable them to handle more passengers in the coming years and fuel tourism sector growth in the region.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said infrastructure development is a key driver for economic growth.

He told the Daily on the sidelines of a conference in Can Tho City last week that the ministry is finding investments for many infrastructure projects, particularly transport projects crucial to socio-economic development of the region.

The important transport projects include an expressway that runs in parallel with National Highway 1A in the region, the Ho Chi Minh highway section from Go Quao to Vinh Thuan, Cao Lanh and Vam Cong bridges, a highway linking bridges and roads in the east of the region and road N1.

The ministry has listed the transport projects as priorities in 2016-2020.

“Once completed, the major transport projects will better link localities in the Mekong Delta and between the region and other parts of the country. They are expected to help create economic breakthroughs in the region,” The said.

Contractors are urgently dredging a waterway for larger vessels to make their way up the Hau River at the end of this year, according to the ministry.

The ministry said a number of major transport projects would be put into use next year, including the upgraded National Highway 91, the expanded National Highway 63 section in the center of Ca Mau, the expanded National Highway 61B section from Vinh Tuong Intersection to Long My Town in Hau Giang, and the expanded National Highway 54 section in Dong Thap Province.

The key transport projects in place in the region since 2010 consist of Can Tho, Ham Luong and Co Chien bridges, HCMC-Trung Luong Expressway and the expanded National Highway 1A section from My Thuan Bridge to Can Tho City. Some VND40 trillion has been spent on these projects.

Ministry to complete many transport projects this year

The Ministry of Transport said the expanded National Highway 1A from Thanh Hoa Province and Can Tho City, Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway, an upgraded runway at Pleiku Airport and other major transport projects will be put into use by the end of this year.

Illustrative image -- File photo

The ministry said in its review report for the first six months of the year that 19 out of 40 expanded four-lane sections of the 1,440-kilometer-long National Highway 1A section have been opened to traffic.

Vehicles will be allowed to run through 105.5 kilometers of Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway at the end of this year instead of nearly 23 kilometers as currently. This section was opened to traffic last month.

At present, the only runway at Pleiku Airport in the Central Highlands province is being upgraded and will be completed this October, or three months ahead of schedule.

The ministry will do utmost to complete 59 transport projects invested by this agency this year.

In the year to date, the ministry has mobilized more than VND27 trillion for 11 build-operate-transfer (BOT) transport projects, meeting 73% of the entire year’s target.

Around VND86.5 trillion will be disbursed for transport infrastructure projects in 2015, including over VND36.5 trillion in the first half of the year.

The ministry plans to break ground for 23 transport projects toward the year-end, including Hung Ha and Chau Doc bridges, National Highway 18 connecting Hanoi City to Bac Ninh Province, the National Highway 53 section from Tra Vinh to Long Toan and the National Highway 60 section from Rach Mieu Bridge to Co Chien Bridge.