Deputy PM - Le Van Thanh inspects implementation of Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project

Deputy PM - Le Van Thanh inspects implementation of Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project

Deputy Prime Minister - Le Van Thanh requested the concerned localities to focus on solving problems in site clearance to implement the project. Regarding this project, there are three major issues including legal, financial and progress. Currently, legal issues are no longer entangled so specific tasks can be implemented to restart the project. He suggested that the Ministry of Transport preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to implement a master plan on restarting the project to submit to the Government for consideration.

The Deputy Prime Minister - Le Van Thanh also asked ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing Ho Chi Minh Road and Ring Road 3, etc. to soon put these projects into operation, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the country.

Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project was approved by the Prime Minister for the list of projects and approved by the Ministry of Transport for investment in October 2010. The total length of the project is 57.8 klilometres, passing through Long An province, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province. It has a total investment of more than 31,000 billion VND with 3 capital sources including ADB loan, JICA loan and reciprocal capital. The capital sources are borrowed at different times, so the time of implementing the sections of the Project is also different.

The project was started in October 2014, has disbursed more than 16,500 billion. In which, the construction and installation part has 11 main bidding packages, the construction output is about 78.96 percent.

However, during the implementation process, it had difficulty in investment capital. Specifically, the 1st ADB loan agreement for the Western section closed from June 2019 has not been extended due to problems with the authority of "managing agencies, investment decisions"; JICA loans and reciprocal capital were not delivered from January 2019, so it was suspended from mid-2019. Besides, due to the impact of Covid-19 epidemic in southern provinces in 2020 - 2021, it has affected the financial situation and implementation plan of contractors.

According to the investor of the project (Vietnam Expressway Development Investment Corporation - VEC), up to now, problems with capital have been basically resolved. However, the restart of the project has met many difficulties due to the long pause, some contractors are still negotiating to resume construction. Besides, there are 18 households that have not handed over the premises to implement the project, etc.

Therefore, the investor proposed to the Government and relevant ministries and agencies to consider supporting the adjustment of loan agreements, ODA allocation procedures, etc; to extend the project completion time to the third quarter - 2025./.

By Le Duc - Translated by P.Ngan

Source: https://baolongan.vn/pho-thu-tuong-le-van-thanh-kiem-tra-tien-do-du-an-cao-toc-ben-luc-long-thanh-a137334.html