High determination from the political system
As expected, the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway project can start construction in 2024 if Dak Nong and Binh Phuoc provinces carry out site clearance well and complete procedures in time according to regulations.
Regarding this project, recently, relevant departments and agencies in Dak Nong have stepped up propaganda to create consensus in support of site clearance and project implementation. Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee has also issued a project implementation plan.
Besides the advantages, the project is also identified to have difficulties such as passing through the bauxite mineral planning area, so it needs to be assessed and approved by the competent authority.
Site clearance and resettlement work requires very urgent progress but the scale of the project is large and many investment procedures must be carried out.
Regarding the capital source for the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway, Mr. Tran Dinh Ninh, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Dak Nong province, said that the locality will contribute 1,000 billion VND.
This amount will be taken from the medium-term investment capital, increasing revenue and saving expenditure of the province in the period of 2021-2025. This will not affect the investment capital of other projects.
In 2024, Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee has allocated 225 billion VND. This shows the province's determination to soon implement the project.
Urgently carry out procedures
Regarding the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway project, Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi has repeatedly directed relevant departments, branches and localities to urgently carry out assigned tasks.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Nong province reviewed the forestry land area within the scope of the project. Through review and comparison with the forestry planning map integrated in the planning of Dak Nong province, the department determined that the location of the expressway is outside the forestry planning.
The location of the expressway does not have natural forest or forest planted from the budget. However, to avoid related difficulties and problems, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province has requested the People's Committee of Dak R'lap district to coordinate with the investor and related units to review the field.
The Department of Transport is assigned to coordinate with relevant departments and localities to proactively advise and report on difficulties and problems in procedures for implementing the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway project.
Other relevant departments are also reviewing the overlap between the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway and the bauxite planning, which the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) previously requested Dak Nong province to implement.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also requested specific statistics on the scope and scale of the expressway project, the planned resettlement construction area and related auxiliary items that overlap with the national mineral planning approved by the Prime Minister; organize a preliminary assessment of the economic value of overlapping minerals, and report to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and decision.
The Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh Expressway project was approved by the National Assembly in principle for investment under Resolution (No. 138/2024/QH15) on June 28, 2024. The project is 128.8km long, of which the section passing through Dak Nong is 27.8km long and passing through Binh Phuoc is 101km long.
The total preliminary investment for the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway is 25,540 billion VND. Of which, the State contributes 12,770 billion VND and the investor capital is 12,770 billion VND.
This project is very important in promoting regional connectivity between the Central Highlands and the Southeast. After the project is completed, it will break the monopoly on traffic connection, helping to shorten travel time from Dak Nong to Binh Phuoc, Ho Chi Minh City.
From there, create a breakthrough in socio-economic development, attract investment, and connect with major consumption centers in the South.
