A series of rest stops are behind schedule: The Department of Roads must issue an "ultimatum"

According to the report of the Vietnam Road Administration, on the North-South Eastern Expressway, it is planned to invest in 24 new rest stops, of which 18 stations have been signed contracts; 3 stations including: Quy Nhon-Chi Thanh, Can Tho-Hau Giang, Hau Giang -Ca Mau are re-bidding (due to no investors meeting the requirements of the bidding documents and no investors participating); 3 stations La Son-Hoa Lien, Ham Deo Ca, My Thuan-Can Tho are completing investment procedures.

Specifically, with 8 stations signed contracts in August 2024, to date, the rest stops Mai Son-QL45, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, Dien Chau-Bai Vot, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet (Km205) have handed over the entire site. The rest stops Cam Lam-Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet (Km144); Phan Thiet-Dau Giay have only handed over part of the site; the rest stop Nha Trang-Cam Lam has not yet handed over the site.

Of which, the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet (Km205) and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay rest stops are implementing some items such as leveling the ground and technical infrastructure system (reaching about 40% of the volume). The Mai Son-National Highway 45, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, and Dien Chau-Bai Vot rest stops are expected to be constructed in June 2025. The three rest stops including Cam Lam-Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet (Km144), and Nha Trang-Cam Lam have not yet been implemented due to lack of land.

For the 10 rest stops signed contracts in March-April 2025, the National Highway 45-Nghi Son, Ham Nghi-Vung Ang, Vung Ang-Bung, Bung-Van Ninh, Hoai Nhon-Quy Nhon, Van Phong-Nha Trang rest stops have completed site clearance. The Van Ninh-Cam Lo, Cam Lo-La Son; Quang Ngai -Hoai Nhon (Km77+820) rest stops have only partially handed over the site. In particular, the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon Expressway rest stop (Km15+620) has not yet handed over the site. Currently, there are 6 rest stops including National Highway 45-Nghi Son, Bung-Van Ninh, Cam Lo-La Son, Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon (Km15+620), Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon (Km77+820), Hoai Nhon-Quy Nhon that have not yet completed the environmental impact assessment dossier.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Giang, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Road Administration, pointed out the reasons for the slow implementation of some rest stop projects, mainly due to the slow handover of land to investors by localities, slow implementation by investors, and re-inviting of investors. The leader of the Road Administration added that although the Prime Minister requested 8 provinces including Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan , Dong Nai and Kien Giang to urgently hand over the land of rest stops before May 20, however, up to now, 8 provinces have not completed the land clearance work, leading to an impact on the implementation progress, especially at some stations that investors cannot access to survey and establish the project. Moreover, the investment in rest stops is determined by the Government in the form of socialization, but the legal regulations on socialization are constantly changing and are not yet complete.

There was a time when the bidding date was approaching but the bidding announcement had to be canceled and the selection of investors stopped due to changes in legal regulations. Therefore, up to now, the contract signing for 18 rest stops on the Eastern North-South Expressway has only been completed.

On the other hand, the rest stops have all increased in size from 3-5 hectares on each side. Therefore, project management boards and localities must carry out additional site clearance procedures from the beginning according to the scale of the new station, which takes a lot of time, especially at a time when there are many changes in land regulations (Land Law 2024, district-level land use planning and plans must be adjusted to be eligible for compensation and site clearance procedures).

To ensure the progress of rest stop projects, the Ministry of Construction requested the Vietnam Road Administration to strengthen the organization of inspections, work with localities and project management boards, and investors to remove difficulties and obstacles as well as synthesize and report to the leaders of the Ministry of Construction to meet and work with local authorities on site clearance, to complete in June 2025 according to the direction of the Prime Minister.

In addition, the Department of Roads requires investors/enterprises to urgently complete relevant legal procedures to speed up project implementation progress according to regulations to soon start construction and speed up construction progress to complete the project according to the signed contract.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Giao-thong/hang-loat-tram-dung-nghi-cham-tien-do-cuc-duong-bo-phai-ra-toi-hau-thu-i772158/