Prime Minister: Decentralization and delegation of authority will accelerate the implementation of key projects.

On the morning of October 16th, in Can Tho city, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for National Key Projects and Projects in the Transport Sector, chaired a conference to discuss solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles and promote the development of transport infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region.

Also attending were Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha and Ho Duc Phoc; leaders of ministries, central agencies; leaders of 12 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region and related provinces and cities; and representatives of construction contractors, consultants, and supervisors.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that three months ago, also in Can Tho, he chaired a conference on resolving difficulties and obstacles and promoting the development of transportation infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Since the beginning of his term, the Prime Minister has personally inspected, supervised, and resolved difficulties and obstacles at least five times, promoting the implementation of key transportation projects. This demonstrates the central government's concern for the development of transportation infrastructure in particular and the development of the Mekong Delta region in general.

Highlighting the role of infrastructure, especially transportation infrastructure, in the process of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, based on innovation and development in the Mekong Delta region, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that it is necessary to decentralize power, eliminate the "request-and-grant" mechanism, with the spirit of "local authorities decide, local authorities do, local authorities are responsible," while the central government performs the function of state management, building plans, programs, laws, mechanisms, policies, management tools, supervision, and inspection.

The Prime Minister stated that today's conference aims to review and assess the progress of projects, highlighting what has been accomplished and what has not; lessons learned; difficulties and obstacles that need to be overcome, especially regarding investment procedures, land clearance, supply of leveling materials, capital allocation, disbursement, and project implementation progress. The spirit is to address difficulties and obstacles wherever they arise; to determine responsibility; and to identify which agencies and units must resolve them, with the motto "clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear accountability, clear timelines, and clear outcomes."

In that spirit, the Prime Minister requested that localities, ministries, and sectors clearly state whether there are still difficulties or obstacles. If so, they must specify what those are and propose definitive solutions. Specifically, he requested: the Ministry of Transport to report on the implementation of projects; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to report on the situation of construction materials – whether there is a sufficient supply or shortage, the reasons for this, and the necessary solutions; and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to report on the balance and allocation of capital and on sustainable development projects in the Mekong Delta adapting to climate change. He also asked whether localities still face difficulties with the shortage of leveling materials, and if so, who is responsible; and how localities with available leveling materials have supplied the projects.

The Prime Minister also requested that management boards, contractors, and consultants report clearly on any remaining obstacles and necessary solutions. He also asked if any units were causing difficulties regarding material supply, land clearance, or construction.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the Mekong Delta region is currently implementing 9 nationally important transport projects, key projects of the transport sector, with a total investment of approximately 106 trillion VND.

Of those, 8 out of 9 projects are currently under construction. The My An – Cao Lanh expressway project is finalizing procedures and is expected to start construction in early 2025.

Of the 8 projects currently underway, 6 are planned for completion in 2025. These include 4 expressway projects with a total length of 207km, part of the 3,000km completion target: Can Tho-Hau Giang-Ca Mau; Cao Lanh-Lo Te; Cao Lanh-An Huu; and Lo Te-Rach Soi. The other two road and bridge projects are: the Ho Chi Minh Highway project (Rach Soi-Ben Nhat and Go Quao-Vinh Thuan sections) and the Rach Mieu 2 Bridge project.

Specifically, the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway project is expected to be basically completed along its entire length in 2026 and put into operation in 2027; the Cao Lan-An Huu project and the Dai Ngai bridge project will be completed in 2027.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thu-tuong-phan-cap-phan-quyen-thuc-day-trien-khai-cac-cong-trinh-trong-diem-post983496.vnp