Greater efforts needed towards 1,200km of expressways in Mekong Delta: PM

The Mekong Delta is expected to have about 1,200km of expressways, with some 600km to be completed within this tenure, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a field trip to the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway project on July 13.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and officials examine the construction site at Highway 61C intersection in Hau Giang Province’s Phung Hiep district on July 13.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and officials examine the construction site at Highway 61C intersection in Hau Giang Province’s Phung Hiep district on July 13.

This is his third fact-finding trip to expressway projects in the region, covering Can Tho city and 12 provinces.

The Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway stretches 188.2km, with sub-projects in An Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang, and total investment amounting to 44.69 trillion VND (1.75 billion USD). Its construction began in June 2023, and the whole route is scheduled to be put into service in 2027.

The Government leader inspected the work in Thanh Tien commune, Vinh Thanh district, Can Tho city, and in Binh Thanh commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province, where he got updates on site clearance, material supply, and obstacles to the subprojects. He asked engineers and workers to speed up the progress, and strive to ensure set targets.

On this occasion, Chinh had a meeting with representatives from ministries, agencies and contractors, during which he urged stronger determination, greater efforts and more drastic actions to meet the target of 1,200km of expressways, thus creating momentum for regional development.

He suggested major contractors to team up with their local peers to mobilise on-site personnel, equipment, materials and logistics, and stressed the need to prevent corruption and other negative phenomena during the construction.

Earlier the same day, the leader and his entourage paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs at the Can Tho city martyrs’ cemetery.

VNA