Prime Minister: Focus on opening the expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau in 2025 and study expansion in the coming period

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of September 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on a number of important issues, including reviewing and promoting the completion of the Eastern North-South Expressway in 2025 according to the set target and studying investment plans to expand sections on this expressway in the coming time.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting of the Government Standing Committee on a number of important issues, including reviewing and promoting the completion of the Eastern North-South Expressway in 2025 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Ministers , leaders of ministries, branches and government agencies.

According to the plan, the North-South Eastern Expressway will be about 2,055 km long, with a scale of 6-12 lanes. The Ministry of Construction said that so far, this expressway has put into operation about 1,652 km and is under construction for 388 km. Some sections are being expanded or are preparing for expansion. By the end of 2025, the route will still have some sections with a limited scale of 4 lanes, only allowing operation at a maximum speed of 90 km/h.

According to reports and opinions at the meeting, the expansion investment has full political, legal and practical bases - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

According to reports and opinions at the meeting, the expansion investment has a full political basis, legal basis, and practical basis. Regarding the political basis, the Conclusion of the Central Executive Committee requires timely upgrading and expanding the expressway in investment phases according to the planning scale; the Conclusion of the Politburo has oriented to prioritize investment resources to complete the Eastern North-South expressway. Regarding the legal basis, there are provisions in the Law on Public Investment, the Law on PPP, the Road Network Planning, and technical standards and regulations on expressways.

In terms of practical basis, the current context of the country has changed a lot compared to the past with the arrangement of administrative boundaries, the economic growth target of 8.3-8.5% in 2025 and double digits in the coming years; the role of the North-South expressway in the East is increasingly important, the demand for transportation is forecast to continue to increase, exceeding previous expectations.

The Ministry of Construction assessed that the North-South Expressway in the East has favorable conditions for expansion as the land has been cleared to a scale of 6 lanes; if expanded, the operating speed will be increased to 120 km/h, bringing higher socio-economic efficiency and overcoming some shortcomings in the process of operating limited 4-lane expressway sections such as the risk of incidents, accidents, and congestion.

The investment in expanding the North-South Expressway in the East comes from the practical requirements of the country's socio-economic development in the new era; in line with the policies of the Party and the State, and legal regulations; contributing to improving transport capacity, enhancing traffic safety; promptly completing strategic transport works to promote regional connectivity, creating momentum and contributing to rapid and sustainable growth in the coming period.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the key task from now until the end of 2025 is to continue reviewing, focusing resources, and removing all difficulties and obstacles to complete and open the entire expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

After listening to reports, opinions, and concluding remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that, with the spirit of working with focus and key points, completing each task and completing each task, the key task from now until the end of 2025 is to continue reviewing, concentrating resources, and removing all difficulties and obstacles to complete and open the entire expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau, including building rest stops. The Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, relevant ministries, agencies, and localities will conduct a summary of phase 1 and draw lessons learned during the implementation process.

At the same time, based on the summary of phase 1, the Ministry of Construction and relevant agencies will evaluate, carefully research, develop projects, and propose overall investment plans to prepare for the expansion and upgrading of invested sections according to a phased scale to reach the scale of a complete expressway, in accordance with the orientation and direction of the Party and State, ensuring compliance with regulations, standards, and technical regulations, ensuring publicity, transparency, and preventing negativity, corruption, and waste.

The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to continue directly directing the above tasks.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the meeting - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Policy to build a number of international-class sports centers

Also at the meeting, the Government Standing Committee gave opinions on the policy of building a number of international-class sports centers and complexes in a number of localities.

The Government Standing Committee gives opinions on the policy of building a number of international-class sports centers and complexes in some localities - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Accordingly, the Government Standing Committee agreed in principle to assign the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to base on recent resolutions of the Politburo, the National Assembly, the Government, legal provisions, orientations, planning, practical situations, development requirements, and consider proposals from investors to decide and organize the implementation within their authority of the construction of sports centers and complexes in a number of localities of international stature, capable of participating in the organization of the Asian Games (ASIAD) and the Olympics, ensuring progress and quality, avoiding corruption, negativity, and waste. If beyond their authority, they must report to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

The Government Standing Committee also continued to give opinions to complete the draft Decree on strategic trade control to be submitted to the Government for promulgation; and to complete the Project on improving the efficiency of the State economy to be submitted to the Politburo for consideration.

Ha Van

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thu-tuong-tap-trung-thong-tuyen-cao-toc-tu-cao-bang-toi-ca-mau-trong-nam-2025-va-nghien-cuu-mo-rong-trong-giai-doan-toi-102250915150348735.htm