Proposal to invest 385.66 million USD to upgrade 3 National Highways in the Mekong Delta

The project of 3 National Highways (53, 62, 91B) connecting regions and adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region has a total investment of 9,297.12 billion VND, equivalent to 385.66 million USD, using loans from the World Bank - WB.

A section of National Highway 62 through Long An . (Photo: Duc Hanh/VNA).

The Ministry of Construction has just submitted a document requesting the Government leaders to consider approving the investment policy for the Project of 3 National Highways (53, 62, 91B) connecting regions and adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region.

The project aims to improve the efficiency, traffic safety and climate change adaptation of 3 National Highways (53, 62, 91B) connecting 7 provinces and cities (now 4 provinces and cities including: Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Can Tho City and Ca Mau ) in the Mekong Delta region.

Of which, National Highway 53 has an investment length of about 41 km in Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces (now Vinh Long province). The scale of upgrading and renovation meets the standards of a grade III plain road, with a design speed of 80 km/h; the cross-section of the roadbed is 12 m wide, and the road surface is 11 m wide.

National Highway 62 has an investment length of about 69 km in Long An province (now Tay Ninh province), upgraded and renovated to meet the standards of a grade III plain road, with a design speed of 80 km/h; the cross-section of the roadbed is 12 m wide, the road surface is 11 m wide; the sections that have met the scale are kept in the current state and the road surface is reinforced.

National Highway 91B has an investment length of about 141 km in Can Tho City, Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu provinces (now Can Tho City and Ca Mau Province), upgraded and renovated to meet the standards of a grade III plain road, with a design speed of 80 km/h; the cross-section of the roadbed is 12 m wide, the road surface is 11 m wide; the sections that have met the scale are kept as they are and the road surface is reinforced.

This is a Group A Project, with an implementation period of 4.5 years after the Loan Agreement takes effect.

With the above investment scale, the Project has a preliminary total investment of 9,297.12 billion VND, equivalent to 385.66 million USD, of which the investment cost for National Highway 53 is 2,601.07 billion VND, National Highway 62 is 3,241.79 billion VND; National Highway 91 is 9,297.12 billion VND.

The project has a WB loan of 262.22 million USD used for the following items: construction costs, pre-tax equipment; construction supervision consulting costs; contingency costs for the above items.

The counterpart fund worth VND 2,975.75 billion (equivalent to USD 123.44 million) is used for the following items: project management costs, construction investment consultancy, other costs; site clearance costs; taxes, fees; contingency costs for the above items.

The domestic financial mechanism for loans and counterpart funds of the Project of 3 National Highways (53, 62, 91B) connecting regions and adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region is allocated from the central budget.

According to the Ministry of Construction, implementing the provisions of Decree No. 165/2024/ND-CP dated December 26, 2024 of the Government on decentralization of national highways to local management, the Ministry of Construction has issued documents requesting the Ministry of Finance to decide on transferring assets to local management, exploitation, maintenance and investment according to its authority.

Accordingly, the 3 National Highways (53, 62, 91B) under the Project are also subject to decentralization to local management. However, if this Project is transferred to localities as the managing agencies, it will be necessary to adjust the Resolution replacing Resolution No. 05/NQ-CP dated January 9, 2025 of the Government to change the managing agency implementing the Project; divide this Project into 4 projects in 4 provinces/cities (Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Ca Mau and Can Tho) so that each province/city is the managing agency.

In addition, it is necessary to carry out the separation procedure and re-submit the Project Proposal and Pre-Feasibility Study Report; wait for localities to complete their apparatus after merging new provinces before implementation can begin.

Furthermore, since 2022, the WB has coordinated with the Ministry of Construction (formerly the Ministry of Transport) to organize many field surveys, work with relevant local agencies and organize workshops to deploy investment preparation work for the Project.

In Document No. 5077/BTC-DT dated April 18, 2025, regarding the responsibility for management and investment of National Highways 53, 62, 91B, the Ministry of Finance stated that in case the Ministry of Construction continues to invest in the Project (without decentralizing National Highways 53, 62, 91B to localities for management and investment), it is necessary to report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Based on the opinion of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Finance to temporarily suspend the transfer of assets to implement the investment project using WB loan capital.

Therefore, to ensure the Government's consistent commitment to the WB on the implementation of the Project and early commencement of construction, the Ministry of Construction respectfully requests the Government leaders to approve the Project investment policy, in which the Ministry of Construction is assigned as the project management agency. After completing the upgrading investment, the Ministry of Construction will carry out the handover procedures to local management according to regulations.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/de-xuat-dau-tu-38566-trieu-usd-nang-cap-3-quoc-lo-tai-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-d315549.html