Proposal to invest early in the 163 km long Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway

The Bao Ha (Lao Cai) - Lai Chau Expressway (CT13) has been approved by the Prime Minister in the Road Network Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and is being proposed for implementation in the 2025 - 2030 period.

Illustration photo.

Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee has just issued Official Dispatch No. 5844/UBND-KTN to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Construction on investment in construction of Bao Ha - Lai Chau Expressway (CT13).

Mr. Le Van Luong, Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, said that the Bao Ha - Lai Chau Expressway (CT13) has been approved by the Prime Minister in the Road Network Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 in Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg dated September 1, 2021.

Accordingly, the Bao Ha - Lai Chau Expressway (CT13) is expected to be invested after 2030. However, Clause 2, Section III, Article 1 of Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg stipulates: "For investment planning projects after 2030, in case localities have investment needs to serve socio- economic development and mobilize resources, report to the Prime Minister for earlier investment".

In addition, Clause 2, Article 2 of Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg also clearly states: "Ministries and branches, according to their functions, tasks and powers, are responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Transport and People's Committees of provinces and cities to arrange resources, propose mechanisms and policies to effectively implement the planning objectives, ensuring consistency and synchronization with the implementation of the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021 - 2030), and socio-economic development plans of each sector and locality".

Compared with the above regulations, Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway (CT13) can be invested before 2030.

Therefore, Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Construction consider including the Bao Ha - Lai Chau Expressway construction project (CT13) in the public investment plan for the 2026 - 2030 period.

Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee commits to carry out compensation and site clearance work with local resources and mobilize other capital sources to participate in investment.

Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway has a total estimated length of 163 km; starting point at IC16 intersection (Km198+500) of Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway; ending point at Ma Lu Thang border gate.

Of which, the section passing through Lao Cai province is 50 km long, passing through 5 communes including: Bao Ha, Van Ban, Vo Lao, Nam Chay, Nam Xe; the section passing through Lai Chau province is 113 km long, passing through 11 communes and wards including: Muong Than, Pac Ta, Tan Uyen, Muong Khoa, Ban Bo, Binh Lu, Khun Ha, Tan Phong ward, Sin Suoi Ho, Khong Lao, Phong Tho.

The proposed investment scale for the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway is 4 lanes (2 lanes each way) with a roadbed width of 22 - 24 m; design speed of 80 - 100 km/h.

According to Mr. Le Van Luong, Lai Chau is a mountainous border province in the Northwest of Vietnam, with a natural area of ​​9,068.73 km2, with a total population of over 497,103 people, including 20 ethnic groups.

The province has a border of more than 265.165 km, adjacent to Yunnan province (China), holding an important strategic position in terms of national defense and security; has Ma Lu Thang international border gate and many potentials for socio-economic development.

However, due to the fragmented terrain, many high, winding mountains, and steep slopes, the roads in the area (including national highways) have low design levels, causing difficulties in travel, trade, investment attraction, and tourism development.

Many potentials and advantages of the province have not been effectively exploited, especially in tourism and border gate economy associated with processing industry.

Besides, Lai Chau province does not have railway or airport, so the connection with Hanoi and neighboring provinces is mainly by road. Up to now, Lai Chau is still one of the few provinces without connecting highways.

“Therefore, considering prioritizing investment in the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway (CT13) to connect the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway axis through the center of Lai Chau province to the international border gate of Ma Lu Thang (Vietnam) - Kim Thuy Ha (China) is extremely necessary and urgent,” the leader of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/de-xuat-dau-tu-som-tuyen-cao-toc-bao-ha---lai-chau-dai-163-km-d400042.html