VietNamNet Bridge - A series of key transportation projects in Hanoi are implemented at snail speed due to difficulties in site clearance.




Currently, Hanoi has five key transport projects to promote economic development, solving traffic congestion, including: the road linking the Nhat Tan Bridge to Noi Bai Airport; Hanoi – Thai Nguyen Highway; Hanoi - Hai Phong Highway; Noi Bai - Lao Cai Highway; and Nhat Tan Bridge.

However, only two projects - Ha Noi - Hai Phong and Noi Bai - Lao Cai highways have basically completed the site clearance phase while the remaining projects are delayed due to slow site clearance.

The Hanoi - Thai Nguyen Highway was kicked off in late 2009 and is scheduled for completion in June 2013, but according to Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha, from the Project Management Unit 2, site clearance for up to 2.8km is not been finalized.

Another project that runs slowly is the Nhat Tan Bridge. The construction of this bridge started in 2009 and is scheduled for completion in 2014, with three packages. However, nearly 60% of the workload is completed at present because about 2.3 hectares of land has not been delivered to the contractor.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Hanoi, site clearance of these projects must be completed by 2012. To serve these projects, Hanoi has recovered 590.4 hectares of land in four districts.

One of the reasons that make slow site clearance is the construction of resettlement areas is also slow.

"If there is no resettlement land for reallocation, it is ineligible to recover the land for transport projects," said the Steering Committee for Site Clearance.

Vu Diep