Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Transport, along with its departments and agencies, is actively working with investors and contractors to push forward the progress of major infrastructure projects in line with the Government’s targets.
Fast-tracking procedures for major railway projects
At the Ministry of Transport’s November review meeting on December 12, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh acknowledged the immense workload and numerous ongoing projects. He urged all units to dedicate not just daytime hours, but also work through the night to meet deadlines in December and early this year.
Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh called on project owners and management boards to resolve bottlenecks and fulfill the goal of completing 3,000 kilometers of expressways as directed by the Prime Minister.
Regarding the Long Thanh International Airport, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh noted that subprojects 3 and 4 are behind schedule. He ordered the formation of a task force to address obstacles and assigned Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan to conduct frequent on-site inspections. “Any issue that can be resolved on-site must be handled immediately,” the Minister stressed, aiming for full project completion by December 31, 2025.
He also instructed senior officials to work with investors and contractors on solutions to shorten the soil consolidation period for the Can Tho – Ca Mau expressway section.
“Time savings also mean cost savings,” he emphasized, noting that quality must never be compromised.
Accelerating key connectivity projects
Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh urged coordination with relevant agencies to kick off major infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh expressway and the Trung Luong – My Thuan expressway under the PPP model. He also addressed long-delayed projects like the Hanoi – Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Cai Lan railway line, calling for renewed efforts to get them moving.
Regarding the North - South high-speed railway, the Minister of Transport emphasized completing the consultant selection process for the feasibility study as soon as possible. Following the Ministry’s internal restructuring, he highlighted the importance of strengthening the project management unit to handle the large workload expected from this project.
“We must learn from countries with successful high-speed rail systems in areas such as project management and implementation. It’s worth considering the establishment of a general engineering board or appointing a chief engineer or architect,” Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh suggested.
Focus on key railway projects and holiday transport safety
He also stressed the need to prepare for the groundbreaking of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway project by this year, in line with the Prime Minister’s instructions. The relevant agencies must clarify investment details to support future negotiations with international partners.
As the year-end and Lunar New Year holidays approach, the Minister highlighted the importance of ensuring transportation safety. “This must be treated as a top priority and not just during peak seasons,” Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh noted./.
