Special mechanism needed for expressway construction in localities: expert

Hạ Long-Hải Phòng Expressway is the first expressway to be implemented by the locality, using the provincial budget and capital mobilised from the public-private partnership (PPP) model. VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI – Special encouragement policies and mechanisms are needed for expressway construction to help localities in disadvantaged and mountainous areas secure investment, an expert has said.

Trần Chủng, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Road Traffic Construction Investors (VARSI) told Kinh tế & Đô thị (Economics & Urban Areas) newspaper that the Government’s policy of decentralising power to localities to build expressways was proper and suitable.

Under the Government’s targets on expressway construction, the construction of nearly 5,000 kilometres of expressway must be completed by 2030. 

In the past 20 years, only 1,200 kilometres of expressway have been built, meaning 3,800 kilometres of expressway must be completed in the next 10 years to meet the targets.

Meanwhile, the State budget can only fulfil part of the financial needs, so localities will have to mobilise resources to build projects under the model of public-private partnership (PPP).

Chủng said expressway construction would bring economic and social benefits for localities and decentralisation to give them more control would enhance the construction process.

“The sooner the expressway is built, the more the locality will benefit from it,” he said.

Chủng said there should be a policy or mechanism for expressway construction, otherwise many localities would hesitate to implement projects.

Bùi Văn Khánh, chairman of Hòa Bình Province’s People’s Committee, said Hòa Bình was a mountainous area with a limited traffic system. 

As a result, it would be difficult to attract investment in costly expressway projects.

“Cities and provinces in the delta have favourable traffic conditions with a large number of vehicles, so it will be easier to mobilise financial sources to build expressways. There should be a special policy for the northwest region,” he said.

Chairman of Cao Bằng Province’s People’s Committee Hoàng Xuân Ánh agreed, saying construction projects could only be successfully implemented with great financial support from the State.

He cited Đồng Đăng – Trà Lĩnh Expressway as an example. Apart from financial support, the project was technically supported by experts from the Ministry of Transport.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked the ministry to collect opinions from ministries and sectors and report the plan to the Government soon. VNS