On March 9, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the State Steering Committee for Key National Transport Projects, chaired the 16th committee meeting, emphasizing the urgency of accelerating infrastructure development.

According to a report from the Ministry of Construction, several projects are advancing on schedule and are expected to be completed by 2025. These include key sections of the North-South Expressway (Eastern route), Cao Lanh - Lo Te, Lo Te - Rach Soi, Ben Luc - Long Thanh, and Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 (Long An segment). These projects contribute to Vietnam’s goal of completing 3,000 km of expressways by 2025.

However, some projects face delays in investment preparation, including Tan Phu - Bao Loc, Bao Loc - Lien Khuong, Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh, and Ninh Binh - Hai Phong (Nam Dinh, Thai Binh segment), as well as Dong Dang - Tra Linh. Additionally, the approval process for some projects has been slow due to the involvement of unnecessary agencies, extending evaluation times.

Land clearance remains a major bottleneck in some provinces, while material shortages in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City continue to affect project timelines.

Critical infrastructure targets for 2025

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed that Vietnam must complete at least 3,000 km of expressways, 1,000 km of coastal roads, and ensure near-complete expressway connectivity from Cao Bang and Lang Son in the north to Ca Mau in the south by 2025. Other key targets include substantial completion of Long Thanh International Airport, Terminal 3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport, and Lach Huyen Port.

Some projects originally scheduled for completion in 2027 may be fast-tracked if conditions allow.

The Prime Minister outlined key directives, including accelerating the feasibility study approvals for the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai Expressway within March. For the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh project, Dak Nong and Binh Phuoc provinces must finalize approvals by April 30 to ensure timely groundbreaking.

The Ministry of Finance was instructed to complete feasibility evaluations for Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 4 and adjust investment plans for the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway by the end of March. Meanwhile, Hoa Binh Province must finalize investment approvals for the Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh Expressway within the same timeframe.

Thai Binh Province was urged to expedite investor selection for the Ninh Binh - Hai Phong Expressway (Nam Dinh and Thai Binh segment), while Hai Phong was tasked with leading construction on its section of the highway.

Hanoi was instructed to reallocate funds among the city’s Ring Road 4 projects while ensuring the overall budget remains unchanged.

In land clearance efforts, local governments in Tuyen Quang, Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Thai Nguyen, Kien Giang, and Bac Lieu must finalize site handovers for 2025 projects by the end of March. Similarly, Lang Son, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, and Can Tho must expedite land clearance for projects such as Hanoi’s Ring Road 4, Huu Nghi - Chi Lang, and Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway.

Securing funding and materials for projects

The Prime Minister urged project investors to ensure adequate funding for all projects scheduled for completion in 2025.

Regarding construction materials, he instructed the Ministry of Public Security to investigate and take strict action against violations in material supply.

He also emphasized that local governments must adhere to commitments regarding material sources, stating that "natural resources belong to the nation and its people, not just individual provinces," and warned against corruption in mining permits.

To meet the 3,000 km expressway goal, the Prime Minister launched a nationwide campaign titled "500 Days and Nights of Determination to Complete 3,000 km of Expressways," calling on provincial leaders to actively oversee and support contractors to ensure smooth progress.

The government has also established seven inspection teams to identify and resolve obstacles in key transport projects.

Rail and airport projects prioritized

For railway expansion, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Construction to collaborate with domestic and international partners to accelerate railway connectivity with China. The Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hai Phong railway project is expected to break ground in 2025.

Regarding Long Thanh International Airport and its connecting infrastructure, the Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to review delays, impose strict penalties for underperformance, and enforce accountability for project managers failing to meet deadlines.

Tran Thuong