Vietnamplus

Overloaded vehicles are once again being spotted on roads and highways across the country, despite the Government crackdown.

A number of highways have been opened for public use recently, benefiting the country’s socio-economic development. But ensuring traffic safety along these roads is difficult due to drivers’ low level of awareness and slack infrastructure management, transport experts say.

Toll fares, so far, have been reduced at 23 Build- Operate -Transfer (BOT) toll stations nationwide, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong said.

Most national highways in the central coastal province of Quang Binh were reopened to traffic on October 16 after the recent flood.

VINCI, a French-based leading global group in infrastructure construction and concessions, hopes to cooperate with the Vietnamese Government and partners to develop highway projects in the country.

The construction of north – south highways is necessary and cannot be delayed, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said at a meeting on the issue in Hanoi on July 7.

The Prime Minister issued Notice No. 1095/CD-TTg to direct relevant ministries, sectors and localities to push forward with measures to ensure traffic safety in the third quarter.

The Ministry of Transport is promoting the use of technology in an effort to better manage the country’s highways, a ministry official said.

The Prime Minister has ratified a master plan on Vietnam highway development by 2020 with a vision towards 2030.

The Government will invest around 109.7 trillion VND (4.8 billion USD) into transport infrastructure in the Central Highlands from now to 2020, according to the region’s steering committee.

The Prime Minister gave nod to a proposal to cut capital for and scale down a road project that connects Hanoi – Hai Phong and Cau Gie – Ninh Binh highways.