Lam Dong proposes to change investor if upgrading National Highway 28 is still slow

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Dong province Ho Van Muoi affirmed after a field inspection and working session with units related to the Project to Upgrade and Renovate National Highway 28B.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi worked with departments, branches and localities on the implementation of the Project to Upgrade National Highway 28B

Comrade Vo Ngoc Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee attended the working session.

On the morning of October 22, at Luong Son commune (Lam Dong), Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi had a working session with relevant units on the progress of site clearance and construction of the National Highway 28B Renovation and Upgrade Project.

The National Highway 28B Improvement and Upgrade Project has a total length of 68km, with a total investment of 1,435 billion VND. The Project Investor is the Vietnam Road Administration. The unit directly managing the project is Project Management Board 5.

Comrade Ho Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee worked with relevant units to speed up the construction progress of the National Highway 28B Renovation and Upgrade Project.

The entire project has 980 affected cases. Up to now, the clearance work has been completed for 62/68km, reaching 91.17%. According to the investor's report, up to now, the project has mixed crushed stone for 44/62km; and paved asphalt for about 37/62km. Compared to the proposed progress, it is still not satisfactory.

“In some sections of the route, the construction unit has not yet fully arranged machinery, equipment and human resources at the construction site. The unit is urging and adding more subcontractors to speed up the progress,” said Mr. Le Van Chung, Deputy Director of Project Management Board 5.

Representative of Project Management Board 5 gave a preliminary report on construction progress and project problems.

Regarding the project's delay, Chairman of Phan Son Commune People's Committee, Mai Hong Dang, said that the project passes through the area with a length of about 37km. Most of the land has been handed over to the investor by the commune. 11 households are in the process of making compensation plans.

“The locality has committed to handing over the site before October 31, 2025. Currently, some sections have been handed over but have not yet been constructed, affecting the people. We propose that the investor and contractor speed up the implementation progress,” said Mr. Dang.

Leaders of Luong Son Commune People's Committee proposed coordination in site clearance.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Son Commune, Vo Tien Chung, emphasized that the locality has made great efforts to mobilize people to hand over the land under very difficult conditions. However, after the handover, the construction has been slow.

"People have finished handing over the land, now they are waiting for payment and witnessing the delayed and shabby construction, which greatly affects their psychology," Mr. Chung emphasized.

Construction on many sections of the route is slow, affecting people's travel.

Regarding the project's delay, Mr. Vu Huu Khoa, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Road Construction and Management Joint Stock Company, informed that the unit is responsible for construction from Km36 - Km42. Of this, 1km is almost completed with synchronous asphalt. The unit committed to basically completing the remaining section by December 31, 2025.

"At locations where there is land but no construction has begun, by October 25, the Company will mobilize all human and material resources to speed up progress," Mr. Khoa pledged.

Mr. Nguyen Duong Ngoc, Deputy Director of Thanh Phat Company - the unit undertaking construction from Km3 - Km20 and Km21 - Km24, said that the unit is focusing on many construction sites to speed up the project's progress.

Leaders of Thanh Phat Company (construction unit) explained the reason why the construction of package XL01 Km03 - Km20 and Km21 - Km24 is not on schedule.

“For Km0 - Km24 alone, we have focused on 6 construction teams. The unit actively coordinates with the locality to count and speed up the progress of site handover. Once a section is completed, the company will start construction on that section to ensure progress,” said Mr. Ngoc.

Regarding solutions to speed up the project's construction progress, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance Duong Minh Chau suggested that the investor should closely coordinate with the commune government to carry out site clearance work. Once the site is available, the construction unit must start immediately. The investor must clearly commit to the progress for the construction units according to a specific roadmap," said Mr. Chau.

The leaders of the Department of Construction requested construction units to increase materials, machinery, and human resources to speed up construction, especially at some key locations.

Director of the Department of Construction Le Ngoc Tien said that the coordination between the relevant units in the project is still slow and not positive. The investor needs to coordinate with the locality to strengthen regular supervision of the construction unit.

“The project has many packages. The investor should evaluate which contractors have the potential to prioritize implementation and calculate how to ensure the project progress. If not focused, it will be very difficult to complete the progress,” Mr. Tien suggested.

The Provincial People's Committee leaders requested to concentrate human and material resources to speed up construction of key locations such as overpasses and embankments.

Regarding the project progress, Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Vo Ngoc Hiep affirmed: The project is behind schedule because the investor, contractor, and the People's Committees of the communes blame each other. The coordination in solving difficulties is not discussed and unscientific .

“Investors, contractors, units and localities must seriously carry out related tasks. In the process of solving difficulties, it is necessary to uphold the sense of responsibility and avoid blaming each other. Progress must be reported to the Provincial People's Committee every week,” Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Ngoc Hiep directed.

The Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee severely criticized the units, especially the construction units, for not fulfilling their commitments and constructing National Highway 28B behind schedule.

Directing at the working session, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi emphasized that this is a driving force, holding the number one position in socio-economic development for Lam Dong in the coming years. The Provincial People's Committee has focused resources and provided maximum support to the investor.

“The land acquisition and clearance is not a big issue that slows down the progress of this project. What is important here is the responsibility of the investor and contractor. The investor must develop a specific scenario for the project's construction progress from now until December 31. All contractors need to have their own scenarios for the packages in charge. If the situation is not optimistic by the end of the year, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee will propose to replace the investor,” the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed.

For contractors, any unit that feels weak needs to request for increased human and material aid immediately, to avoid prolonging the situation and affecting the construction progress. In case any unit feels that its capacity is too weak and not capable of undertaking the task, it must immediately give its opinion to the investor to replace the contractor or give priority to strong contractors in joint venture units.

The provincial People's Committee leader emphasized that the current project construction progress is slow, affecting people's travel and the overall socio-economic development of the province.

“This is a very important project. The Provincial People's Committee will establish a separate Steering Committee to promote this project. There is not much time left, everyone must concentrate, be determined, and work scientifically to speed up this vital project,” Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi directed.

The Project to Renovate and Upgrade National Highway 28B through Lam Dong Province was approved by the Ministry of Construction in Decision No. 1495/QD-BGTVT, dated November 16, 2023. The project has a route length of 68km, with a total investment of VND 1,435 billion.

The Project Investor is the Vietnam Road Administration. The unit directly managing the project is Project Management Board 5. Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee is the unit carrying out the site clearance work. The project implementation period is from April 2024 to December 2025 and will be put into use in 2026.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/lam-dong-de-nghi-thay-chu-dau-tu-neu-nang-cap-ql28-van-cham-397247.html