During a group discussion session of the National Assembly on government and parliamentary term-end reports this afternoon, Deputy Bui Manh Khoa from Thanh Hoa voiced his concerns about expressway development.

He acknowledged the government's strong investment in transportation projects, many of which have been launched and completed across the country in this term.

“The government has made commendable investments in developing transportation infrastructure,” he said. “However, I believe we must ensure both lane standards and safety corridors.”

He emphasized that, since the beginning of the term, deputies have raised the issue of building standard road systems to avoid future accidents and costly repairs. “But we’re still building two-lane and four-lane expressways without solid medians,” Khoa pointed out.

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Deputy Bui Manh Khoa: The 90 km/h speed limit on many expressway segments does not match the actual infrastructure quality and traffic volume. Photo: Khanh Duy

He urged the government to focus not only on the number of expressways built but also on their quality, ensuring they meet safety standards.

“Expressways should be built neatly and efficiently, minimizing the need for future upgrades or renovations,” he suggested.

Khoa further argued that the 90 km/h limit on many expressway sections does not align with current infrastructure and traffic volume. He called for research into adjusting these limits to improve efficiency while maintaining optimal safety.

Echoing his views, Deputy Hoang Minh Hieu from Nghe An also recommended revising the maximum speed on segments of the North-South Expressway where traffic volume is low and safety conditions permit.

Citing statistics, Hieu noted that expressways have the lowest traffic accident rates compared to other road types. As such, raising speed limits on low-traffic sections is both feasible and necessary to fully utilize the expressway network's capabilities.

A breakthrough project, yet unimplemented after two years

Deputy Tran Quoc Quan from Tay Ninh raised concerns over the decentralization of authority within the two-tier local government structure.

He explained that under the former three-tier system (province, district, commune), most responsibilities were given to the provincial and district levels. Since July 1, the country has moved to a two-tier model (province and commune), but communes are now tasked with around 1,060 duties. However, implementation guidelines remain slow, as noted in the government's report.

Quan highlighted obstacles in decentralizing transport infrastructure management. While the central government manages national highways, local authorities are responsible for implementing and benefiting from them.

In Tay Ninh, national highways such as 62, 1A, 50, and N2 are critical for economic development. Despite parliamentary resolutions and inclusion in public investment plans, these projects remain stalled after two years.

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Deputy Tran Quoc Quan from Tay Ninh speaks at the group discussion. Photo: Khanh Duy

“I recommend that the central government work toward more effective decentralization,” he said. “As of now, I’ve learned that four national highway segments in Tay Ninh have been handed over to the local authorities.”

Quan also called on the government to review and evaluate the implementation of the National Assembly’s pilot resolutions on special policies for national public investment projects and major urban development.

This evaluation, he added, would pave the way for tailored policies at the local level and support the comprehensive amendment of the Public Investment Law and the Land Law.

Khoa expressed concern over the unpredictable fluctuations in the real estate market, particularly skyrocketing housing prices in some areas that have doubled or tripled, making homeownership increasingly unattainable for many citizens.

He observed that while the government and media have addressed the issue, their actions have yet to tackle its core causes.

He suggested introducing stronger regulatory tools, such as tightening credit flows into the real estate sector and adjusting tax policies, to curb speculation, redirect investment toward production and business, and prevent the formation of housing bubbles.

Thanh Hue