Construction of several transportation projects nationwide will be accelerated this year, following instructions from Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang.

On January 28, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, construction proceeded on the Phu Quoc International Terminal.

The minister urged that construction be completed ahead of schedule, which is officially slated to be in the fourth quarter.

Several transportation projects in Hanoi, including Lang Ha – Thai Ha Overpass and Belt Road No.3, have broken ground.

HCM City's Department of Transport said it is important to speed up construction of transport projects this year, including 32 road, railroad and water transportation projects.

The new bridge will help to resolve traffic congestion in Binh Thanh District.

The city's transport sector will also proceed with construction to complete paperwork for another 33 projects in the city, according to a representative from the department.

Meanwhile, construction of several transportation projects in northern region are also on track.

According to a report from the ministry, the budget for developing transport infrastructure has shrunk. However, the ministry will disburse 42 trillion VND (2 billion USD).

Deputy Minister of Transport Ngo Thinh Duc and the chairman of HCM City People's Committee, Le Hoang Quan, have urged that construction of the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway be speeded up. Construction resumed on Tuesday.

As expected, seven kilometres of the expressway's 1A and 1B bidding package will be finished this year. Construction of the entire 55-kilometre route is expected to be completed by October 2013.

Quan said during the ceremony to speed up construction, the project's completion would help boost economic development in the south and HCM City as well. /.