Hanoi (VNA) -ꦇ The Ministry of Transport has asked project management boards and contractors to accelerate construction on key expressway projects, warning of strict punishment for violations and emphasising the critical national infrastructure development timeline.

With a target of completing approximately 1,188 kilometres of expressways this year, investors and contractors are making efforts to meet the deadline across multiple strategic expressway segments. Construction on the Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon expressway has reached significant milestones. Director of the project management board Le Thang reported that roadbed consolidation has exceeded 95%, while water drainage systems and underground passages have been completed. The project has mobilised over 3,850 personnel and 1,550 pieces of equipment. The Deo Ca Group, responsible for constructing three tunnels through mountains, is pushing to finish tunnel excavation and reduce project timelines by three months for road construction and eight months for the tunnel work. Project completion is scheduled for late 2025. Meanwhile, Le Thanh Hai, Director of the Central Construction Group that is in charge a bidding package of the Chi Thanh – Van Phong expressway project, said the unit has completed half of the workload, though the work for roadbeds has been delayed due to poor weather conditions. The group is committed to mobilising resources to ensure the project is operational by September this year. For the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, the Ministry of Transport reported that road foundation and pavement work is well underway. To accelerate progress on critical transport projects, the Ministry of Transport has directed investors and project management boards to develop both comprehensive and detailed construction schedules for each contract package, enabling precise progress tracking and evaluation. When project timelines fall behind, contractors are required to implement immediate remedial actions, including extending work shifts and increasing personnel. The ministry has requested weekly and monthly progress review meetings, with strict assessments of the performance of management board leaders whose projects lag behind schedule. Punishments, such as warnings, work volume reductions, and even contract termination, will be meted out to any contractors failing to meet deadlines.

Additionally, the transport ministry has joined hands with other ministries, sectors, and localities to handle challenges regarding site clearance and building materials, while working to streamline administrative procedures and expediting material licensing for contractors. While emphasising speed, the ministry underscores that progress must not come at the expense of quality. Inspection and supervision must be put in place, ensuring absolute precision and preventing any potential errors. According to Deputy Director of the Transport Construction Investment Management Authority Nguyen The Minh, the 1,188 kilometres of expressways set for 2025 span 28 projects, of them 17 managed by the Ministry of Transport and the remainders by local authorities. The ministry has followed the Prime Minister’s directive to maintain round-the-clock work, ensuring construction uninterrupted through all conditions. The 2,063-km North-South expressway project stretches from the northern border province of Lang Son to the southernmost province of Ca Mau, passing through 32 provinces and cities, and connecting four key economic regions, including the two major economic hubs – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City./.