Land clearance problems for expressways through Khanh Hoa will soon be resolved.

Proposing to authorize localities to convert forest land according to the procedures of the Forestry Law

On March 9, in Khanh Hoa, Mr. Le Quang Huy, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, led a delegation to inspect the Van Phong - Nha Trang expressway and Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway projects. Also accompanying the delegation, on the side of the Ministry of Transport , was Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy.

The National Assembly delegation worked with leaders of Khanh Hoa province to remove obstacles on highways.

The delegation directly inspected the location of more than 4.2 hectares of forest land at Km347 on the Van Phong - Nha Trang highway; worked with the locality on site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, natural forest land; proposed to build an intersection of National Highway 26 with the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot highway of Khanh Hoa province...

After acknowledging Khanh Hoa's efforts in supporting the implementation of expressway projects in the area, Mr. Le Quang Huy requested the locality to clarify the issues of converting forest use purposes so that the working group can consult with ministries, branches, and the Government to resolve them.

Regarding the relocation of 110kV and 220kV electrical infrastructure, the working group agreed that the Government needs to urge ministries and branches, and proposed amending a number of related documents to soon create conditions for the rapid relocation of power lines on the route to clear construction sites.

In addition to difficulties in converting forest land, the working group also requested Khanh Hoa to clarify the unit price of construction materials, standards related to construction material mines, and collect practical problems so that the group can work with the Government and central ministries and branches...

The National Assembly working group surveyed the location of Km347 (Van Phong - Nha Trang highway) with more than 4.2 hectares of unconverted forest land.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy said that the locality has made efforts to participate in site clearance and the people in the project area have high consensus.

However, the Deputy Minister said: The establishment of pre-feasibility procedures will certainly not be accurate for the area and each type of forest compared to reality. Therefore, with the forest area changing during the implementation of the approved national key project, it is proposed that the National Assembly should authorize the Provincial People's Committee to carry out the conversion according to the procedures of the Forestry Law.

Regarding the transfer of material mines to contractors, the Deputy Minister emphasized that the goal is to reduce costs compared to using materials in commercial mines, avoiding the situation of material prices being inflated and forced down. However, currently, according to regulations, the land in the material mines is not recovered but leased back from the people.

Therefore, there is a situation where landowners "demand high prices", making it difficult to lease mine land. "The current mechanism does not have regulations on reclamation of mines according to the Mineral Law, so the Ministry will propose to the Government to resolve this difficulty," Deputy Minister Huy informed.

Regarding the proposal to build an interchange between the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and Khanh Hoa National Highway 26, Deputy Minister Huy said that the Ministry of Transport is very interested in the locality's socio-economic development. However, it is necessary to consider and evaluate the traffic volume from this national highway when switching to the expressway. From there, propose to the Ministry of Transport to have a further handling plan. At the same time, ensure investment harmony between existing projects.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Danh Huy noted comments on land clearance problems on the Van Phong - Nha Trang expressway.

Risk of slow progress on highway

Previously, reporting to the working delegation, Mr. Le Quoc Dung, Deputy Director in charge of Project Management Board 7 (investor of Van Phong - Nha Trang Expressway) said that Khanh Hoa has made active efforts to hand over 99.6%, which has basically been completed.

Currently, there are more than 4.2 hectares of forest on the main route. Because the purpose of forest use at the foot of the slope has not been changed, there is not enough space to deploy simultaneously over a 2.2km area.

According to Mr. Dung, currently, the contractors have only started to construct some drainage culverts, opened service roads along the route to transport supplies and materials and install Khanh Binh bridge girders, and have not yet dug enough slopes to get soil to coordinate for the embankment sections (the excavation volume is about 900,000m3).

Son Hai Contractor constructs the intersection between Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and Van Phong - Nha Trang Expressway.

For the 11 220 kV power line locations appraised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, up to now, there have been appraisal reports for 10/11 locations. Of which, 6 locations have approved designs and are selecting construction contractors; 4 locations have not yet approved designs and estimates (being reviewed); 1 location has submitted documents but has not yet received appraisal opinions from competent authorities.

"The work of relocating the power lines is very slow, causing some bridges to have completed piers and girders but not yet installed due to power lines. Many sections have received land but cannot start construction or have had to stop halfway due to grid safety issues. There are about 20 locations in total, with a length of about 3.4 km," said Mr. Dung.

Mr. Pham Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (Khanh Hoa Provincial Traffic Board, investor of Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway) said that up to now, the section passing through Khanh Hoa province has a total land acquisition area of ​​nearly 229 hectares, and has counted 972 cases (100%).

A section of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot highway.

There are a total of 69 technical infrastructure construction sites on the route (including: 3 220kV power sites, 1 110kV power site, 1 35kV power site, 20 medium and low voltage power sites...) being relocated. As for the relocation of the 220kV line, on January 15, the Project Management Board submitted it to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for appraisal.

Mr. Hoa suggested that the procedures for converting the purpose of some forest areas along the route take a long time. Although the Prime Minister approved the policy of converting the forest use purpose from December 15, 2023, the conversion procedures are still being completed, so the handover of the site for the project is still slow.

"The Ministry of Transport is requested to study, consider and report to the Prime Minister on the investment in building an interchange between the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and National Highway 26 in phase 1 of the project (before 2026 according to the policy of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee). Thereby, creating conditions for the province's socio-economic development, in line with the orientation in Resolution No. 09 of the Politburo on building and developing Khanh Hoa province to 2030, with a vision to 2045," Mr. Hoa added.

The Van Phong - Nha Trang expressway project through Khanh Hoa has its starting point connecting to the south of Co Ma tunnel (Van Ninh district). The end point connects to Nha Trang - Cam Lam expressway (Dien Khanh district).

Route length 83.35km (through districts and towns: Van Ninh, Ninh Hoa, Dien Khanh and Khanh Vinh).

The project has a total investment of more than 11,808 billion VND, with Project Management Board 7 as the investor.

Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project, 117 km long, with 32.7 km passing through Khanh Hoa and 84 km passing through Dak Lak.

The section through Khanh Hoa province has the starting point at Km 0+00 (Ninh Da commune, Ninh Hoa town); the end point at Km 32+00 (Ninh Tay commune, Ninh Hoa town).

The road has 4 lanes, design speed 100km/h.

The project has a total investment (preliminary) of more than 5,600 billion VND, and was started on June 18, 2023. The investor is the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Transport.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/vuong-mat-bang-lo-cham-tien-do-cao-toc-qua-khanh-hoa-192240309200839048.htm