Transport Minister Nguyen Van The reported to the National Assembly the pace of implementation and investment disbursement of two key infrastructure projects, the eastern section of the North-South Highway and the Long Thanh International Airport, during the NA’s debate on October 29. 

Transport Minister Nguyen Van The

Giving explanation in response to NA deputies’ concerns over the North-South Highway – East project, Minister The said the transport ministry has received 112 inspection and auditing delegations over the past three years. He affirmed that the ministry has followed the investment process and procedures as required by law.

The project comprises 11 component projects, which all require the Transport Ministry to conduct environment impact assessment and work with related localities on clearance work and project’ details such as the scale, location of the highway, positions of underground tunnels and bridges, the minister said. 

He noted that the ministry had approved five component projects and five others are being considered by the Government. The remaining project, which is the My Thuan bridge, needs more time as the ministry had to hire consultancy for technical designing. However, the minister affirmed that the goal is to have all 11 component projects approved within this year, so that construction will be carried out and completed in 2020 and 2021.   

As for the disbursement of 14 trillion VND for the project, the minister said it would begin after the land clearance is completed in January next year. Another allocation of more than 27 trillion VND will be disbursed after contractors are selected for the eight sub-projects in the form of public-private partnership in September next year. 

Regarding the Long Thanh project, Minister The reported that the national assessment council had approved the land clearance plan submitted by the Dong Nai administration. The plan is now being considered by the Government, and is expected to receive approval at the beginning of November.  

 Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry signed a contract with a consortium of five contractors on the building of the first phase of the airport building project in June this year. The plan should be completed in July 2019, while the environment impact report would be completed in March 2019, the minister said, adding that the Transport Ministry will strive to submit the documents to the National Assembly in October next year. 

As such, the 23 trillion VND funding allocated for the project remains unused, and only after the Government approves the clearance plan, the disbursement of the money will begin.  

The Transport Minister affirmed that his ministry will do its best in implementing the two key national projects.-VNA