On the afternoon of June 2^nd, the Ministry of Transport held an online meeting with leaders of the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province on the progress of the project of Ho Chi Minh Bypass Road to the east of Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Transport, chaired the meeting at the live broadcast of the Ministry of Transport.

Participants in the meeting at the live broadcast of Dak Lak Province included Mr. Vo Van Canh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province, and leaders of relevant departments and sectors.

Delegates at the live broadcast of Dak Lak Province

The investment project to build Ho Chi Minh Bypass Road to the east of Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province has a total investment of 1,509.1 billion VND with the implementation period from 2020 to 2023 according to Decision No. 1872/QĐ-BGTVT of the Ministry Transport dated September 30^th 2020.

Mr. Vo Van Canh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province, delivers a speech at the meeting

The People's Committee of Dak Lak Province approved Plan No. 12/KH-UBND dated January 14^th 2022 on the implementation of compensation, support and resettlement of the project. The total area of land clearance is about 116.99 hectares. There are 1,388 households affected by land clearance, located in Cu M'Gar District, Cu Kuin District, Krong Pac District and Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province.

Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Transport, chairs the meeting at the live broadcast of the Ministry of Transport.

Up to now, the Investment and Construction Project Management Unit (PMU) of works on Transport and Agriculture and Rural Development has completed the actual inventory of the land clearance for 105.19 out of 116.99 hectares of land (reaching 90%), equivalent to about 4.38 out of 39.6 kilometers of land (reaching 87%). The PMU has also handed over 8.94 out of 39.6 kilometers of land, reaching 22.5% (including 4.692 kilometers of land with the compensation for land clearance and 4.248 kilometers of land that have been handed over voluntarily). In particular, 4 out of 4 localities approved the land price coefficient, and 2 out of 4 localities approved the compensation plan. Cu Mgar District approved the plan for phase I with 101 households/4.692 kilometers and the amount of 63 billion VND. Krong Pak District approved 2 plans with 47 households and the amount of 31.7 billion VND.

Mr, Pham Van Ha, Director of the Investment and Construction Project Management Unit of works on Transport and Agriculture and Rural Development, reports the progress of the project

The PMU has handed over about 8.94 out of 39.606 kilometers of the land for construction so far.

The construction progress of the project is about 6% behind schedule. The delay is caused by problems related to the land and the current complicated weather.

Total allocated capital has reached 1044.633 billion VND so far. Disbursed capital has reached 387.605 out of 1044.633 billion VND (reaching 37.1%) since the beginning of the project. Until 2021, the allocated capital was 294.633 billion VND, and disbursed capital reached 286.74 out of 294.633 billion VND (reaching 97.3%). In 2022, 750 billion VND will be allocated, and disbursed capital from the beginning of the year to April was 127.073 billion VND.

At the meeting, Dak Lak Province reported some difficulties during the project implementation. In particular, due to some effects of traffic project implementation, the land price within the area of the project has fluctuated significantly. This has led to difficulties in paying compensation for people because they believe that the compensation price is lower than the market price at the time of payment. In addition, construction progress has been slow due to the lack of construction sites. Therefore, the monthly, quarterly and yearly construction plans are always changed and inaccurate, and the mobilization of construction workers and equipment have been passive and dependent on the time of handing over the construction site.

Dak Lak Province has developed solutions to accelerate the progress of land clearance and continue to closely follow the scene and coordinate with local agencies and units in order to promptly solve problems on land clearance. In addition, the PMU has actively coordinated with People's Committees of districts and communes and relevant departments to persuade households to hand over the land for construction.

With regard to the construction, contractors, supervisors and investors have regularly followed the works to monitor the construction progress for the 8.94 kilometers in order to ensure quality and progress. Detailed construction progress has been prepared quarterly for road sections with construction sites. Besides, the construction volume has been estimated to monitor, urge, adjust and promptly accelerate progress. They have also worked closely with the land clearance units to persuade people to hand over the land. The construction contractors will start construction immediately when construction sites are available.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Le Anh Tuan requested that the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province and localities actively implement land clearance and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to solve problems arising in the process of capital allocation and project construction because the project will only be implemented in 2 more years. The People's Committee of Dak Lak Province must prepare an assessment report on the status of slow implementation. Districts must have commitments on the plan for land clearance, resettlement arrangement, handover of the land in a specific time in order for the project to be implemented on schedule. Dak Lak Province also needs to accelerate capital disbursement so that the central government will decentralize capital sources for many subsequent projects.