Slow-progressing transport projects - barriers from construction material supply

Recently, the supply of construction materials has been scarce, especially plastering sand, foundation sand, and embankment soil, leading to unusually high prices and large differences between construction material businesses. Bac Ninh does not have any sand/soil mines, and its supply is completely dependent on other localities, while it is implementing many important national transportation projects and a series of key transportation projects. This is a major obstacle that seriously affects the progress of project implementation.

Scarcity of construction materials supply seriously affects the progress of transportation projects.

According to a survey by the Department of Construction, the current price of roadbed materials for hilly land is about 180,000 VND/m3; sand for embankment is about 250,000 VND/m3, many times higher than before, but in reality it is still very difficult to buy due to lack of supply. Because some licensed mines have already exploited all their reserves, while new mines have not been licensed, waiting for auctions and selection of mining units; problems in planning construction material mines, many administrative procedures, related to the Planning Laws: Land; Geology and Minerals; Construction; Irrigation; Forestry; speculation, hoarding, price gouging, signs of manipulation, and chaos in the construction materials market... In addition to extreme weather, unusual rain, high water levels in rivers and streams, reducing mining productivity and increasing selling prices. Bac Ninh is not proactive in supply, and must depend on neighboring provinces with mines such as: Bac Giang , Lang Son, Phu Tho, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Hanoi, Ninh Binh... Currently, traffic construction projects are seriously lacking in construction materials, and construction is being carried out at a slow pace.
The representative of the provincial Traffic and Agriculture Project Management Board, the unit assigned to be the investor of 8 important traffic projects, including the national key project of Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region, said: Currently, the demand for construction materials is very large, but there is a serious shortage. There is a shortage of about 1.3 million m3 of sand; about 0.85 million m3 of soil; about 0.85 million m3 of crushed stone; about 0.3 million m3 of stone for concrete. Meanwhile, key national and industry-key traffic infrastructure projects are being implemented simultaneously and require speeding up progress.
Currently, the announcement of construction material prices in the province does not keep up with market price fluctuations, does not accurately reflect the cost of construction material prices to the construction site and is not consistent with the market price level. After approval and selection of contractors, some projects have been slow to implement construction or stopped because construction material prices have increased significantly compared to the winning bid price. The financial capacity of some contractors has shown signs of weakening, construction is fragmented, and when there are fluctuations in material prices on the market, they cannot proactively mobilize material sources for implementation. Meanwhile, the construction progress of many projects must be accelerated and shortened according to the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister , and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Many contractors bid and win bids for many projects at the same time, leading to scattered construction, heavy dependence on advances and payments from investors... causing difficulties on top of difficulties.
At the key provincial road projects DT.295C, DT.285B connecting Bac Ninh city through industrial parks with the new National Highway 3; DT.277B connecting with Ha Bac 2 bridge, Ring Road 4 is scheduled to be completed before December 31, 2025, meeting the travel needs of the people, creating momentum for socio-economic development. However, up to now, the investor, the Civil and Urban Development Project Management Board, has not been able to confirm that the project's construction progress can reach the set target due to the common difficulties of scarcity of construction materials and sudden increase in unit prices. The remaining volume of sand for embankment that has not been constructed is about 176,000m3, not to mention the lack of embankment soil, crushed stone...
Faced with such difficulties and general pressure, the Department of Construction has surveyed and reviewed the technical factors of the roadbed, advised the Provincial People's Committee to replace the remaining roadbed materials of the projects from black sand to other materials with larger and more available supplies, still meeting the economic and technical criteria; required investors during the implementation process to ensure the quality and progress of the project, calculate correctly and sufficiently according to regulations, and avoid loss and waste. The Provincial People's Committee has organized a conference with departments, branches, investors, and contractors to find solutions. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ngo Tan Phuong agreed in principle to convert to earth fill, and requested investors and contractors to review the volume, location, and sections that can be converted. The Department of Construction is assigned to preside over and coordinate with departments and branches to survey the supply and prices of common construction materials to update and announce prices close to market prices, ensuring basic construction materials for rapid implementation of projects. Require investors to direct contractors to mobilize resources to gather materials at the construction site, not to rely on price reduction and other factors, and to ensure construction progress of projects according to commitments with the province.

Hoai Anh

Source: https://baobacninh.vn/cac-du-an-giao-thong-cham-tien-o-rao-can-tu-nguon-cung-vat-lieu-xay-dung-97969.html