On August 12, the Office of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee said that the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to review and advise on handling the termination of the Huu Lung Rest Stop project contract.
The direction was issued after the Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board had three documents related to the termination of the contract with this project.
Huu Lung rest stop was prepared to select investors from 2019, including two areas arranged on both sides of the Bac Giang - Lang Son expressway, section Km81+280 to Km81+920. The project location is in Tan Hoa village, Ho Son commune, former Huu Lung district, now belonging to Huu Lung commune.
According to preliminary selection documents, the project uses more than 99,000 m2 of land, with initial estimated implementation costs of 99.8 billion VND.
By 2021, the investor selection plan will determine an area of 99,200 m2, with a total estimated investment of 102 billion VND.
In September 2023, Lang Son Provincial People's Committee signed a project implementation contract with a joint venture of Ha Thanh Co., Ltd. and Ha Tay Transport Automobile Joint Stock Company.
However, in August 2024, the Provincial People's Committee determined that the investor had not fulfilled some obligations under the contract, including paying value to the state budget and handing over the measurement dossiers for site clearance.
Relevant state management agencies, especially the Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board, were also commented on for not closely coordinating, and not fully and promptly implementing the responsibilities of contract management agencies.
The province at that time requested to work directly with the investor. If the enterprise continues to be slow to fulfill its responsibilities or does not show determination to implement, the Project Management Board must advise on procedures to temporarily suspend or terminate the contract.
In case of continuing the project, the parties must review the extension of guarantees, financial obligations, site clearance dossiers and adjust contracts if necessary, according to the conclusion of the Provincial People's Committee.
By the end of 2025, Lang Son still aims to complete site clearance, construction and put the rest stop into operation in 2026.
However, the contract processing process continued to be prolonged, leading to a proposal to consider termination in August this year.
