The environmental improvement and infrastructure construction project along the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len canal was started in February 2023, with a total initial investment of VND 8,200 billion, then adjusted to more than VND 9,000 billion.
The canal is nearly 32 km long, flowing through 7 old districts including: District 12, Binh Tan, Tan Phu, Tan Binh, Go Vap, Binh Thanh and Binh Chanh.
Initially, the project was targeted to be completed by April 30, 2025. However, the project has only reached about 54% of the construction volume, with the risk of further delays.
Of which, the embankment construction item reached 86%, the centrifugal concrete pile reached 81%, the installation of drainage culverts reached 46% and the new manhole reached 19%. To date, many sections of the canal road have been opened to traffic with a total length of more than 14 km.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board ( urban Infrastructure Board - investor), one of the major obstacles at present is compensation and site clearance.
The project still has 14 cases that have not been handed over, including 1 case in the old Binh Thanh district, 12 cases in the old Binh Tan district and 1 case in the old Binh Chanh district. These households have received compensation but have not yet handed over the site or re-encroached on the cleared area.
The Urban Infrastructure Board recommends that the People's Committees of relevant wards and communes urgently develop a plan to reclaim the site and hand over to the project in September 2025 to ensure progress.
In addition to the site, the supply of materials is also putting great pressure. The project needs about 1.4 million m3 of sand to build the roadbed and reinforce the embankment. Currently, only 250,000 m3 (16%) have been brought to the construction site from imported Cambodia and two sand mines in Ben Tre. The high price of sand compared to the time of bidding documents makes it difficult for contractors to carry out construction.
Similarly, the demand for crushed stone and gravel of the project is about 755,300 m3, but only 120,000 m3 (16%) has been supplied. The simultaneous implementation of many key infrastructure projects such as the North-South Expressway, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 ... has made the supply of stone scarce, directly affecting progress.
The investor proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee designate stone quarries in Binh Duong to supply the project, and at the same time sent a document to the provinces of Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho to support additional material sources.
Along the entire route, many medium and low voltage power lines, transformer stations and telecommunication cables crossing the canal also hinder the construction process. The investor said that it will continue to coordinate with related power companies to relocate and rearrange according to the progress of each item.
Regarding the treatment of excess mud, the project has identified 13 dumping locations in old districts such as 12, Binh Tan, Go Vap and Lang Le Cultural Park. Localities have agreed, but the Department of Agriculture and Environment should soon submit to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for official approval for implementation.
Previously, in a report to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Urban Infrastructure Board said that it had repeatedly reminded and punished a series of contractors for not ensuring project construction progress.
