Donating land for road expansion

BAC NINH - Ngoc Thien commune (Bac Ninh province) was formed by merging the communes of Ngoc Thien, Song Van, Ngoc Chau, Ngoc Van, and Viet Ngoc from the former Tan Yen district. Although the paving of rural roads had been actively implemented in the past, many sections remain narrow and do not keep up with practical demands. Driven by the people's wishes, the commune continues to implement a campaign to donate land for road expansion.

United in purpose for the common good.

In Kim Xa village, Ngoc Thien commune, during our conversations with the villagers, we clearly sensed their enthusiasm as each person contributed to building their homeland. The previously narrow roads have now been widened to 5-7 meters. To achieve this result, many households have taken the lead in donating land.

Ms. Duong Thi Nhung, from Kim Xa village (on the right), is seen talking with the village leader about donating land.

Ms. Duong Thi Nhung's household donated nearly 70 square meters, the largest area in the village. Standing beside the newly built wall, set back nearly 2 meters from the old road edge, Ms. Nhung shared: "I am 74 years old this year, and I try my best to do whatever I can for the village. Wherever the government needs land, I will donate it."

Similarly, Mr. Pham Van Luan's family in the same village also donated land, demolished a wall more than 30 meters long, and moved it back more than 1 meter, while also removing part of their kitchen. His family hopes that once the land is cleared, the road will soon be renovated and paved with concrete on the new foundation to make travel more convenient for the villagers. This is also the shared aspiration of nearly 40 households who donated residential and garden land for the village's project. They all wholeheartedly contributed to the common good.

While some localities are still facing difficulties in compensation and land clearance, in Ngoc Thien, the movement to donate land for road expansion has been strongly supported by the people. The meters of land donated and walls demolished without demanding compensation have reduced the burden on the state budget. From here, resources will be invested in infrastructure projects, and roads will become increasingly wider, bringing changes to the homeland.

According to Mr. Le Trung Thuan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Branch and Head of Kim Xa village, the village has over 100 households. The implementation of the land donation movement to expand the road was carried out systematically, democratically, and transparently. Based on the direction of the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune, the village organized a Party Branch meeting with the participation of officials from various organizations to discuss and reach a consensus. Afterwards, the content was presented to the villagers, and everyone enthusiastically responded.

Initially, there were some concerns, but thanks to thorough communication and explanation, the people trusted and agreed. The village's approach involved estimating the cost to reimburse the households that donated land for the project; collecting 2 million VND from each household; and soliciting additional support from successful people from the village.

Thanks to this, the village has raised over 780 million VND. This money is used transparently, with a supervisory team to ensure that the affected households are properly reimbursed. To date, this work has been completed, the village road has a wider base, and when the local authorities implement the road upgrade project, the land is ready, eliminating the need for further land clearance.

In Chau Son and Te villages, the walls have also just been rebuilt. Beside the lush green rice fields, many sections of internal and inter-village roads have been leveled with earth, awaiting construction. Mr. Pham Van Vu's family in Chau Son village recently demolished a nearly 30-meter-long section of wall, costing almost 70 million VND to rebuild, to make way for a new, wider road.

In Chau Son village alone, each household contributed 400,000 VND, creating a common resource for road construction. Amidst the rice paddies, Mrs. Duong Thi Bich, while weeding, pointed to the newly donated land and excitedly said: “A few meters of land is nothing; we just hope the government will build a wider road so our children and grandchildren can benefit from it. That would make us happy.”

Unleash the power of the people, reduce budget expenditures.

According to the People's Committee of Ngoc Thien commune, in implementing the new rural development program for the period 2026-2030, and concretizing the Resolution and Plan of the Party Committee, the commune has reviewed and grasped specific criteria. Through this, it has been determined that the transportation criterion needs further improvement. This is a difficult criterion, requiring significant funding. The entire commune needs to expand and upgrade approximately 150 km of roads; if compensation and land clearance are required, the funding for road construction will be limited.

Therefore, the commune launched a campaign to donate land for road expansion and beautification of village roads and alleys. As a result, from the beginning of the year until now, people in the commune have voluntarily donated thousands of square meters of land and contributed 563 days of labor. Many roads in the villages have been prepared, only waiting for material support for road construction.

The road in Te village is ready for upgrading and widening.

Comrade Nguyen Van Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Ngoc Thien commune, said that after conducting a field survey and listening to the thoughts and aspirations of the people, the commune determined that further expansion of rural roads is absolutely necessary. Previously, the province had issued a Resolution on hardening rural roads, achieving many positive results, mobilizing the people's efforts, and creating a new look for the countryside. The old dirt roads have now been given a "new coat" of solid concrete, eliminating the dust in hot weather and the mud during heavy rains.

The people have clearly recognized that transportation is a crucial factor in boosting the economy and improving living standards. When it comes to road construction, the people are very enthusiastic, confident, and ready to cooperate with the local Party committee and government. Based on this consensus, the commune has implemented a program of donating land to expand roads throughout the area, especially in villages with narrow roads such as Kim Xa, Chau Son, and Te.

According to local residents, the previously paved 3.5-meter-wide roads are no longer suitable for the pace of development and the increasing demand for car travel. It's difficult for two cars to pass each other, and in some sections, vehicles have to reverse to give way. In response to this, Ngoc Thien commune has designed a model, requiring villages to build roads at least 5 meters wide, ensuring sufficient space for two cars to pass each other when traveling in opposite directions. Going forward, with the support of provincial funds, the commune will gradually build these roads, prioritizing key routes and densely populated areas.

By implementing policies and resolutions to renovate and expand roads in line with the people's aspirations, Ngoc Thien commune has successfully mobilized its community. While some localities still face difficulties in compensation and land clearance, in Ngoc Thien, the movement to donate land for road expansion has been strongly supported by the people. The donated land and demolished walls, without requiring compensation, have reduced the burden on the state budget. From this, resources will be invested in infrastructure projects, and roads will become increasingly wider, bringing about positive changes to the homeland.

Text and photos: Trinh Lan

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/hien-dat-cho-duong-rong-mo-postid443074.bbg