Project of nearly 3,900 billion VND to upgrade the southern waterway corridor

The Waterway Project Management Board has just submitted a proposal for approval of the investment project to develop waterway corridors and logistics in the Southern region. The project will contribute to improving the infrastructure system, reducing congestion, accidents, and reducing the cost of transporting goods by waterway from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster.

Cho Gao Canal, the vital waterway of the Mekong Delta region. Photo: Trung Chanh

The Waterway Project Management Board said that the unit has just submitted a document requesting the Ministry of Transport to approve the investment project to develop waterway corridors and logistics in the Southern region.

The project is expected to be implemented in Vinh Long province (including Tra On district, Tam Binh district, Mang Thit district), Ben Tre province (Cho Lach district), Tien Giang province (Go Cong Tay district), Long An province (Chau Thanh district), Dong Nai province (Nhon Trach district).

This is the largest waterway infrastructure project ever implemented in the Southern region to upgrade two important waterway corridors including the East-West corridor with a length of about 197 km through the Hau River (from Can Tho Port), Tra On River, Mang Thit River, Co Chien River, Cho Lach Canal, Tien River, Ky Hon Canal, Cho Gao Canal, Rach La, Vam Co River, Nuoc Man Canal, Can Giuoc River, Soai Rap River (the confluence of Soai Rap River, Nha Be River and Long Tau River, Ho Chi Minh City).

The North-South corridor is about 82 km long through Dong Nai River (from Dong Nai Port), Nha Be River, Long Tau River, Dong Tranh River, Tac Cua River, Go Gia River, Thi Vai River (Cai Mep Thi Vai port cluster, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province).

In particular, the East-West corridor will be renovated and upgraded to level II inland waterway engineering for self-propelled ships up to 600 tons, three-layer container ships that normally operate 24/7, and self-propelled ships up to 1,500 tons that take advantage of high tides to operate. The North-South corridor will have its routes renovated for self-propelled ships up to 5,000 tons and four-layer container ships to operate smoothly and safely.

The total investment of the project is 3,900 billion VND (equivalent to more than 163 million USD). Of which, the two largest expenses are compensation, support and resettlement costs of nearly 720 billion VND; construction costs of more than 2,220 billion VND. The implementation period is 5 years from the time the competent authority allocates capital for the project.

The project is expected to borrow about 107 million dollars from the World Bank (WB) and receive non-refundable aid from the Australian Government, estimated at more than 580 thousand dollars. The Government's counterpart capital for the project is nearly 56 million dollars.

Upon completion, the project will contribute to improving the infrastructure system, reducing congestion, accidents, and reducing the cost of transporting goods by waterway through the renovation and upgrading of the East-West transport corridor connecting the Mekong Delta region and the renovation of the North-South transport corridor connecting the Southeast region with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster.

( According to thesaigontimes.vn )

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