Provincial leader inspects progress of Ninh Binh-Hai Phong expressway project

The delegation inspected the construction of the expressway in Yen Thang ward; and the location of the Vac River bridgehead in Khanh Nhac commune. At the sites, the delegation listened to reports from the Ninh Binh Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board No. 1 and representatives of the construction contractor on land clearance; the project implementation status and disbursement of funds; difficulties, obstacles, solutions, and plans and progress for the coming period.

The Ninh Binh - Hai Phong expressway project’s section passing through Ninh Binh province (in former Yen Mo and Yen Khanh districts), is approximately 25.3 km long. The route starts at the Mai Son interchange (connecting to the North-South expressway) and ends at the Day River bridge.

The project is developed to expressway standards with four lanes and a design speed of 120 km/h. The total investment is over 9.11 trillion VND from the central and local budgets. The project is managed by the Ninh Binh Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board No. 1 and will be implemented in the 2024-2026 period.

In 2024, the project will carry out the preparation, appraisal, and approval of the feasibility study report and technical design; and implement land clearance. From 2025-2026, the project will continue land clearance, commence construction, and carry out the construction of the project.

Currently, land clearance for the projecthas reached 99.21%; 10 out of 10 resettlement areas have been handed over, with eight areas basically completed; two areas (Khanh Hong and Khanh Hoi) are undergoing adjustments and are expected to be completed in May 2026.

Restoration works are being implemented, and some electricity and telecommunications items have been relocated.

Regarding the project's construction progress, the project's value has reached 33.78% of the contract value, with disbursements totaling nearly 2.93trillion VND. However, progress is behind schedule by approximately 164.7 billion VND, mainly in roadbed and some bridge sections, due to the impactof fluctuating fuel prices.

Regarding disbursement, since the commencement of construction, the total disbursed value has reached 4.48 trillionVND. The planned capital allocation for 2026 is 2.77 trillion VND. To date, 432.36 billion VND has been disbursed, reaching 15.58% of the annual plan. From now until the end of 2026, the project is expected to disburse approximately 980.5 billion VND.

Overall, the progress of land clearance and the construction of resettlement areas for the project is still slow and has not met the requirements as directed by the Provincial People's Committee. Therefore, to ensure the project's completion on schedule, the Ninh Binh Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board No. 1 requested the province to direct relevant localities, departments, and agencies to strengthen coordination to resolve difficulties and obstacles.

After inspecting the sites and listening to reports from the units, Son requested relevant departments, agencies, and localities to strengthen coordination to resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating conditions for the project to be constructed as quickly as possible, ensuring quality and technical requirements.

He also called for decisive action to resolve cases of households that have not agreed to the compensation plan. The authorities should urgently finalise the enforcement procedures if necessary to hand over a clean site to the contractor inMay 2026.

At the same time, the contractor was asked to increase the number of simultaneous construction teams at locations where work can be carried out to compensate for the delayed volume. The investor needs to promptly implement the construction of items after adjustments, ensuring the overall progress of the project.

Regarding technical issues, the investor needs to coordinate with the consulting unit to supplement appropriate solutions based on the geological situation to ensure construction meets design requirements, he stressed.

Emphasising that this is a key national project in the province, Son requested the investor and localities to uphold a high sense of responsibility, considering the acceleration of progress and disbursement of public investment capital as a top political task, requiring focused and decisive leadership and direction.

He noted that during the construction process, difficulties and obstacles may arise, Departments, agencies, and localities need to closely monitor and understand these issues to promptly resolve matters within their jurisdiction; other issues should be compiled and reported to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and resolution, ensuring the project's smooth implementation, adherence to the set schedule, and fulfillment of the planned disbursement schedule for public investment funds./.