National Assembly Deputies Question "How to Solve Sadness on Highways Without Rest Stops"

The question-and-answer session on the afternoon of November 6 was for five ministers in the economic sector groups: industry and trade, agriculture and rural development, transportation, construction, natural resources and environment.

However, most of the questions from the National Assembly deputies were related to traffic issues. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang continuously stood up to answer questions from the National Assembly deputies.

From the position of moderator, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested that delegates "balance" the questioning with other field groups, so that other industry leaders have the opportunity to share industry issues.

ĐBQH chất vấn cách giải quyết nỗi buồn trên cao tốc không trạm dừng nghỉ - 1 — National Assembly delegate Nguyen Huu Thong questioned the Minister of Transport about the nearly 200km of highway without rest stops (Photo: Hong Phong).

Questions for Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang were mostly related to investment in expressways and the shortcomings that need to be overcome.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Thong (Binh Thuan) questioned the Minister of Transport about the nearly 200km highway passing through Binh Thuan but there are no rest stops.

"People and voters have complained that they don't know how to solve their problems when traveling on this highway. I would like to ask the Minister how to solve this problem. When will there be a rest stop so that people can feel secure when traveling on the highway?", the delegate questioned.

Minister Nguyen Van Thang took responsibility as Minister of Transport for this issue. He said he sympathized with people traveling on highways that lack rest stops.

"It's true that rest stops are being delayed," the Commander of the Transport Industry admitted, saying that during this term, when implementing highway projects, we have to "run and queue at the same time."

According to the Minister, rest stops are not only places that provide free public services such as parking lots and restrooms, but also places that, if exploited, will bring great benefits. However, when reviewing the regulations related to rest stops, there is almost no legal corridor.

According to him, the Ministry of Transport has been very aggressive recently, "running, queuing, and constructing at the same time", and the entire phase 1 has almost no rest stops.

Minister Thang said that the Ministry of Transport has directed strongly and urgently to issue a circular guiding the selection of investors for socialization - something that did not exist before.

Regarding another issue related to the size of rest stops, Mr. Thang said there are no regulations yet.

ĐBQH chất vấn cách giải quyết nỗi buồn trên cao tốc không trạm dừng nghỉ - 2 — Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang answers questions from National Assembly deputies (Photo: Hong Phong).

Previously, the maximum size of rest stops on expressways was 1 hectare, but Mr. Thang emphasized that now 1 hectare is not possible, so recently the Ministry of Transport has actively built a legal corridor, resolutely planned and implemented bidding, inviting investors.

Up to now, on the expressway routes in phase 1, bidding and investor selection have begun.

According to the Commander of the Transport Industry, 9 rest stops in phase 1 will be completed in 2023-2024, 15 stations in phase 2 will certainly ensure progress, meaning that when put into use on all expressways in phase 2, there will be enough rest stops with a spacious scale and in accordance with international practices.

"I hope delegates and voters nationwide will sympathize. The Ministry of Transport is working hard to make up for lost time. Phase 2 must be completed and phase 1 must be completed. This will also be included in the standards and submitted to the Government in the first quarter of 2024, including highway standards for easier implementation later," according to the Minister of Transport.

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