Unfinished expectations
Located in a favorable location, right near the administrative center of Trung Khanh commune, the bus station was once considered an indispensable part of the local planning for the development of transport infrastructure and urban areas. However, after completing the basic infrastructure, the project quickly fell into a state of "cold". For many consecutive years, the bus station has had almost no passenger transport activities.
Passenger bus routes from Chongqing to Cao Bang or other communes mainly pick up and drop off passengers at spontaneous points outside. On September 3, it was noted that construction materials appeared in part of the bus station area. On the 1,000m2 site, excavators, garbage trucks and some personal cars appear frequently.
A 100-ton electronic weighing station for trucks and containers was also set up right in the wharf area. The "Trung Khanh District Bus Station" badge still exists but the entire bus station does not have a single bus, instead it is chaotic and shabby.
The previously often closed and locked operating area has now been sold with some additional groceries and candy for waiting seats. However, according to the residents, the reason the operator opened the store was because the enterprise operating the new bus station allowed the construction of another large-capacity electric vehicle charging station, so it opened it.
Many people also reported a series of unusual things at the project. Talking with reporters, Mr. Mac Van Hung (residential group 4, Trung Khanh commune) - shared that on April 15, 2012, the People's Committee of the old Trung Khanh district reclaimed 1,815m2 of agricultural land of his family to build a bus station.
The family agreed to hand over the land because there was a commitment: If the project is not used for the right purpose, the land will be returned. However, the project has a sign "Trung Khanh District Bus Station" but there are no passenger cars operating, only used for container trucks and trucks, going against the original commitment.
In September 2022, Mr. Hung's family filed a complaint with the District People's Committee, but only received a general response. After that, the Cao Bang Provincial Citizen Reception Committee transferred the petition to the district for settlement (June 23, 2023). Up to now, Mr. Hung's family has not received any response.
"We are farmers, the recovery of up to 1,815m2 of agricultural land has seriously affected our lives and economy, and the unit price when reclaimed is also quite low. We really hope the case will be resolved properly," Mr. Hung added.
According to the investigation of the reporter, regarding this incident, on April 15, 2012, the Compensation, Support and Resettlement Council (BTHT&TDC) of Trung Khanh district (old) chaired by Mr. La Van Hong (then Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee) issued commitment No. 01/CK-HDBTHT&TDC to commit to households whose land was recovered.
Bus stations are used for the wrong purpose?
The commitment shows that if the Land Acquisition and Investment Council hands over the land but the investor uses it for the wrong purpose, the council must return the land to the recovered households, and the people will return the compensation previously received.
However, up to now, the bus station has almost not been operating with the prescribed function, instead, the station is operated as an electronic weighing station and an electric car charging station...
The decision to re- announce Trung Khanh District Bus Station on April 12, 2023 announced by the Cao Bang Department of Transport (old) is that this bus station is managed and operated by Dinh Van Construction and Trading Company Limited. The bus station belongs to type 6 bus station operating in the area, with a total area of 1,000m2.
According to this decision, the total area of the bus station is only about 1,000m2, but in the detailed estimate of the compensation, support and resettlement value related to the bus station, there are 7 households affected, nearly 4,000m2 of land (mainly rice fields) has been reclaimed.
"The bus station is only about 1,000m2 but has reclaimed several thousand square meters of land, so where is the remaining land going and how is it used? Now, every time my children go back to their hometown or go to Hanoi, they have to call the bus company directly to book a seat and then go to the gathering point, while the bus station - which was built right on the family's land, less than 50m from their house - has no buses operating, which is very unreasonable" - Mr. Luong Van Chu was upset.
Talking with reporters, Mr. Tang Quoc Doan - Vice Chairman of Trung Khanh Commune People's Committee - said: "The bus station was built a long time ago, to know the details that need to be reviewed, I will let you check the people's reflection on the bus station being used for the wrong purpose".
