Removing bottlenecks and promoting infrastructure projects

To achieve this result, Ho Chi Minh City has significantly shortened the time for approving documents, boldly giving more initiative to investors and project management boards in the process of designing, estimating, and technical adjustment. Strong decentralization and authorization help reduce the situation of "waiting for documents" between departments and branches. Stages such as technical appraisal, contractor selection, and site clearance are carried out in parallel instead of sequentially as before, thereby shortening months, even quarters in the investment preparation phase.

Along with that, the city promotes digital transformation and the application of information technology in public investment management. The online progress monitoring system allows leaders at all levels to monitor project implementation and promptly handle problems right at the scene. The city has also established a city-level Steering Committee for each key project group, directly managed by the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. Investors, management boards and contractors must sign commitments on progress, quality and personal responsibility - if they violate, they will be strictly handled. Expanding the application of the BIM model in construction management helps save costs, strictly control techniques, reduce errors and improve project quality.

However, in reality, there are still "issues" that need to be resolved. Many large projects are currently concentrated in a number of management boards such as the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Traffic Works, leading to a large workload while the staff is thin. The supervision and handling of situations at the construction site is therefore not timely, leading to slow progress, low disbursement, lack of coordination, and even concerns about the quality of the project such as at the An Phu and My Thuy intersections or the underpass at the Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho intersection.

To overcome this, the city leaders require to strengthen the periodic capacity assessment of management boards. If they do not meet the requirements, the project scale will be adjusted or personnel will be changed. In addition to public and transparent bidding, Ho Chi Minh City is determined to eliminate weak contractors who violate the schedule; at the same time, select reputable units with financial, technical and experienced capacity. Contractors must commit to having strong enough financial capacity to maintain continuous construction, avoiding the situation of "winning the bid and then waiting for capital".

One of the biggest bottlenecks for a long time is site clearance and resettlement. This is the main reason why many key projects have stalled. According to experts, to completely solve this problem, the city needs to prepare resettlement land funds, publicize and make compensation plans transparent, and at the same time increase dialogue and mobilize people to create consensus. The city should also have a timely reward mechanism for localities that complete site clearance early, considering this as a criterion to evaluate the management capacity of local leaders.

The application of GIS technology and land database will help to accurately determine the scope of reclamation, avoid overlaps, and shorten appraisal time. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City should build a specialized electronic information portal to publicize the progress, images, and status of each project; allowing people and social organizations to independently monitor, creating positive pressure to force construction units to ensure progress.

Along with transparency mechanisms and social supervision, city leaders need to clearly identify "projects that are not allowed to be delayed", focus on directing, regularly inspecting and thoroughly handling the situation of shirking responsibility.

With high political determination, unified direction and effective use of special mechanisms from the Central Government, Ho Chi Minh City can completely remove "bottlenecks" and promote infrastructure investment progress. When key projects are completed on schedule, it will not only contribute to improving the quality of life for people but also create a strong driving force for sustainable development, maintaining the role of the country's economic locomotive in the new era.

QUOC HUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/go-diem-nghen-thuc-day-cac-du-an-ha-tang-post821728.html