Prime Minister: 'Speedy and bold' to develop all 5 types of transport in the Mekong Delta

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: 'Speedy and bold' to develop all 5 types of transport in the Mekong Delta synchronously - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; leaders of ministries, branches, and central agencies; Secretaries and Chairmen of provinces and cities in the Southeast and Mekong Delta regions; investors, project management boards, and contractors of the projects.

Reports and opinions at the meeting assessed that recently, the Party, State, Government, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers have paid special attention to investing in developing transport infrastructure in the southern provinces, especially in the Mekong Delta region.

With the strong direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, and the synchronous participation of ministries, branches and localities, from what was considered a "lowland" of highways, up to now, the connecting traffic infrastructure network in the Mekong Delta has changed.

Regarding roads, the road network planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, in the Mekong Delta region is 1,256 km of roads, including 3 vertical expressways and 3 horizontal expressways.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting on the implementation of key transport projects in the southern region - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

To date, the Mekong Delta has completed 121 km of the longitudinal axis (including Ben Luc - Trung Luong - My Thuan with a length of 91 km, My Thuan 2 Bridge with a length of 7 km, My Thuan - Can Tho with a length of 23 km). In the period of 2021-2025, 10 expressway projects/component projects with a length of 432 km are being implemented. In the coming time, we will continue to research and invest in an additional 703 km, including the Ca Mau - Dat Mui project of 90 km.

Regarding the progress of key road projects being implemented, the 110 km Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway is scheduled to be completed in 2025. The 191 km Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway is shortening its progress and will be completed in July 2026.

Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway is scheduled to be completed in 2027 (part 1 through Dong Thap province, the locality registered to shorten the completion schedule to 2025. My An - Cao Lanh Expressway is completing procedures to start construction in June 2025. Cao Lanh - Lo Te Expressway is scheduled to be completed in 2025. Lo Te - Rach Soi Expressway is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The Ho Chi Minh Road project, Rach Soi - Ben Nhat, Go Quao - Vinh Thuan section, is scheduled to be completed in 2025. The Rach Mieu 2 Bridge project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

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

The projects have basically completed site clearance, with only a few remaining problems. Difficulties and problems with construction materials have also been basically resolved, however, some localities need to make efforts to complete mining licensing procedures for some projects…

Regarding aviation, the Mekong Delta region has 4 airports: Can Tho, Ca Mau, Rach Gia and Phu Quoc.

Regarding railways, the Mekong Delta plans a railway line from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, 174 km long, with an investment schedule before 2030. Currently, research is being done to add to the planning the section connecting Can Tho City and Ca Mau City.

According to maritime planning, the Mekong Delta region includes 12 seaports: Can Tho, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang.

Regarding inland waterways, projects are being implemented to develop waterway corridors and logistics in the southern region through the provinces of Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Long An, Dong Nai; investment project to upgrade the Muong Khai - Doc Phu Hien canal through Dong Thap province; preparation for investment to upgrade the Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Ca Mau waterway transport route...

Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Truong Canh Tuyen speaks at the meeting - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The results achieved exceeded the set target.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches, agencies, units and localities in implementing transport infrastructure projects in the Mekong Delta under the leadership of the Party, the participation of the entire political system, the direction and administration of the Government, the support of people and businesses, and the help and support of international friends.

In particular, the Prime Minister thanked the people in the project area for giving up their land, residence, livelihood, burial grounds, and ancestral graves for the projects.

The Prime Minister stated that in the special context, with special efforts, special approaches, and many innovations, the implementation of projects has achieved special results, exceeding the set targets up to this point, in which the horizontal expressway (Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang) was scheduled to be completed in 2027 but is striving to be completed in July 2026, and the vertical expressway (Can Tho - Ca Mau) must be completed no later than December 19, 2025.

The Prime Minister clearly stated three major requirements for the projects: (i) Keep up with and exceed schedule; (ii) Ensure and improve quality; (iii) Do not increase capital or price; at the same time, do not allow corruption or negativity to occur, ensure hygiene and restore the environment.

Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee Pham Thanh Ngai speaks at the meeting - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In the coming time, to ensure the progress and quality of ongoing projects , the Prime Minister directed that next week, the Ministry of Construction must complete instructions on the implementation of measures to apply science and technology to shorten loading time and construction time.

Regarding raw materials, up to now, the requirements have basically been met. The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to urgently provide guidance on the coordination of sand after unloading from one project to another as well as a plan to transfer mines that still have reserves but are no longer needed for exploitation to other projects.

Requesting the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to arrange and provide sufficient capital for the projects, the Prime Minister emphasized that all three issues of technology, materials and capital have been resolved. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha continues to directly direct the final handling of related issues.

The Prime Minister emphasized a number of important lessons: The entire political system must participate, promote solidarity and unity, the Party Committee's leadership, the State management government, the Fatherland Front, and political organizations must actively participate; promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-reliance, and self-confidence, superiors must trust subordinates, and support each other; regularly inspect, urge, encourage, and reward, and resolve any problems where they arise; difficulties under the authority of which level must be resolved by that level; if beyond the authority, they must be reported to the competent level for decision.

"In May 2021, we met in this hall to discuss the implementation of projects. At that time, we did not know where the capital would come from. But now we have achieved specific, measurable results, proving that nothing is impossible. We must turn nothing into something, turn difficult into easy, turn impossible into possible," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister directed that next week, the Ministry of Construction will complete instructions on implementing measures to apply science and technology to shorten loading time and construction time - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister once again commended the provinces of Dong Thap, Ben Tre, An Giang, Vinh Long, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong for urgently working with localities, investors, and project management boards to coordinate and provide sufficient roadbed leveling materials for projects that are lacking resources.

Orienting in the next phase, with experience, confidence, courage, experience, and maturity after the past 4 years, the Prime Minister requested to do more, better, stronger, "faster, bolder" in the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 in developing transport infrastructure for the Mekong Delta as well as other strategic infrastructures, each year better than the previous year, each term higher than the previous term. We must look far, look wide, think deeply, do big things, put national and ethnic interests above all, first and foremost.

"If we can solve the five modes of transportation (road, air, sea, river, and railway), the Mekong Delta will escape poverty. Therefore, we must be determined to do it, each generation must do a little to complete it," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Regarding each specific field, regarding roads, the Prime Minister directed that by the end of this term, the Mekong Delta will have 600 km of expressways and strive to have at least 1,300 km of expressways by 2030, nearly 100 km higher than the previous plan.

Regarding aviation, Phu Quoc, Ca Mau and Rach Gia airports will be expanded. Localities will promote a proactive spirit and carry out site clearance.

Regarding sea routes, the Prime Minister assigned specific tasks in implementing major port projects including Cai Cui, Tran De, and Hon Khoai.

Regarding waterways, the planning is already in place, the Ministry of Construction designs models of inland waterway ports, the provinces review, take the initiative, and decide on projects according to their authority. The spirit is that the Central Government only implements large projects connecting regions, countries, and internationally.

The Prime Minister requested to do more, better, stronger, "faster, bolder" in the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 in developing transport infrastructure for the Mekong Delta as well as other strategic infrastructures - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Regarding railways, the Prime Minister directed preparations to start construction of the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway in 2027 and Can Tho - Ca Mau in 2028.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to synchronously develop transportation methods in the Mekong Delta with the spirit of "clear people, clear work, clear time, clear products, clear responsibilities, clear progress"; "working together, enjoying together, developing together, winning together, sharing joy, happiness and pride when achieving results".

During that process, we must ensure "3 yes, 2 no": There are benefits for the State, benefits for the people, benefits for businesses; no corruption, negativity, waste, and no loss or waste of people's assets, efforts, and money.

The Prime Minister said that after this meeting, there will continue to be working sessions to implement projects to respond to subsidence, landslides, drought and salinity, human resource training projects, healthcare development, etc. in the Mekong Delta, exploiting all the unique potentials, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages, bringing the Mekong Delta to develop synchronously, comprehensively, inclusively, leaving no one behind.

According to baochinhphu.vn

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202504/thu-tuong-than-toc-tao-bao-de-phat-trien-dong-bo-ca-5-loai-hinh-giao-thong-tai-dbscl-1040457/