Digging up roads and sidewalks at the end of the year: "Chronic disease"

For many years now, at the end of the year, a series of roads, sidewalks, and median strips in the capital are dug up and repaired, leaving them in disarray. This "chronic disease" not only greatly affects and hinders traffic but also disrupts people's daily lives.

Đào đường, vỉa hè cuối năm: 'Căn bệnh kinh niên'

Many roads and sidewalks in Hanoi are being dug up again at the end of the year. (Source: dangcongsan.vn)

In the last days of 2023, many roads and sidewalks in Hanoi were dug up and paved, looking like a "construction site". This has become a "repetition" that has been repeated for many years. Although the press has reported on this situation every year, it seems that for the implementing units, the year-end road digging has not changed at all, not only taking place on central streets but also "flaring up" in alleys in residential areas.

At the end of the year, people's travel needs increase. This is also the time when the streets need to look neat and tidy to welcome Tet, so the "refrain" of digging up roads at the end of the year often causes negative reactions. At the meetings between the People and the National Assembly and Hanoi People's Council delegates, many voters expressed their indignation and asked: Why is construction not carried out during the "long days and long months" of the year, but only at the end of the year? So, is this an "inevitable" task that cannot be avoided? And how can we end this "chronic disease"?

Explaining the situation of road digging at the end of the year, Mr. Le Ngoc Minh, Vice Chairman of Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, said: In general, a project from the time of proposal to approval goes through many stages and must follow the time-consuming process. Usually, the project is not started until October, or later, December every year.

An official of Thanh Xuan District People's Committee also said that in order to approve the investment policy, the project must first be approved by the People's Council and included in the medium-term public investment portfolio. Next, the District People's Committee prepares a report proposing the investment policy to submit to the Department of Planning and Investment, and collects opinions from many departments, such as: Construction, Finance, Planning - Architecture, Transport, Natural Resources and Environment; then submits to the City People's Council for approval of the investment policy.

Similarly, National Assembly delegate Truong Xuan Cu (Hanoi delegation) said that the "refrain" of repairing roads and sidewalks at the end of the year has been widely reported by public opinion and people. The main reason is the problem of capital disbursement, making it difficult to arrange the budget at the beginning of the year. When capital is available, many procedures and bidding processes must be followed... This leads to the fact that construction and road excavation only begin at the end of the year.

Some experts also analyzed that the end of the year is the season for digging roads because localities are "running" to meet the disbursement target. This activity is often not prioritized for funding at the beginning and middle of the year, but only when the localities have funds at the end of the year do they disburse for these projects. Therefore, these activities depend on the budget revenue and expenditure situation and the investment plan of the locality.

A representative of the Maintenance Board under the Hanoi Department of Transport said that the reason was related to the approval of policies and plans by higher-level units. The unit also wanted to implement it early, but because the annual and quarterly maintenance and repair plans were sent to higher levels, they were only approved in the third and fourth quarters, leading to delays and delays in maintenance and repair.

On December 27, 2023, at a meeting with departments, branches, districts, and counties, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh also said that he was very "impatient" about this issue, because the situation of flower garden and sidewalk renovation, road repair, etc. is reported by people and the press every year. Every year, plans are made at the beginning of the year and only implemented at the end of the year.

Therefore, the head of the Hanoi City government believes that the procedures for this issue must be implemented early, so that construction can begin around mid-year to ensure quality, urban aesthetics, civilization, and politeness. "Stop issuing permits for digging sidewalks and roads and stop construction from January 16, 2024 (ie December 6) until the end of Tet Giap Thin 2024" - Chairman Tran Sy Thanh requested.

It can be said that every time Tet comes, Spring comes, the Capital in particular and the whole country in general really need to be renovated to welcome a more beautiful new Spring. The maintenance and repair of sidewalks is actually a necessary thing to do for the urban appearance and common interests. The problem is that the implementation of the management and construction units is not really appropriate.

Therefore, it is time for traffic management agencies to make timely adjustments, determined to reduce the situation of bunkers and trenches that hinder travel during the Tet holiday. Relevant units need to be proactive, have a plan to reasonably allocate repair items, then surely the "chorus" of road digging at the end of the year can be toned down, even stopped to reduce inconvenience to people in a harmonious and reasonable way. And in that process, there must be stronger sanctions, resolutely stopping construction, requiring the return of sidewalks for delayed projects.

Source