Houses covered with tarpaulins located near Highway 19 under construction

These days, the construction of National Highway 19 under the project to enhance traffic connectivity in the Central Highlands region, the section passing through Ta Giang 2 village, Tay Giang commune, Tay Son district, is temporarily suspended due to protests from many households.

The reason given by the people is that the road construction is too high, making life difficult for the people. Many households have turned their front houses into basements, unable to do business…

Project to Enhance Traffic Connectivity in the Central Highlands Region. Photo: Diem Phuc

Ms. Thai Thi Suong (62 years old, Ta Giang 2 village) reported that the road is built 4m higher than the houses in some sections, the houses of the people are below, making it impossible to do business, so "we request that the project stop construction until there is a satisfactory solution"...

The suspension of construction of National Highway 19 from October 2022 through Ta Giang 2 village has caused the road surface to be uneven for a long time, making it difficult for traffic to pass through.

Not only that, when it's sunny and there are many vehicles passing by, the construction unit hasn't had time to water, and dust covers people's houses.

“Sometimes we water, sometimes we don’t, and the dust flies all over the house. We have to cover it with tarps or else it will be like the street. The construction of the project also caused some houses to crack…”, Ms. Suong added.

Develop compensation plan and make it public to the people

According to research, the construction of the project to enhance traffic connectivity in the Central Highlands region is invested by Project Management Board 2 (QLDA 2 - Ministry of Transport ). The project is 143 km long, passing through the two provinces of Gia Lai and Binh Dinh. The total investment is about 155.8 million USD (more than 3,600 billion VND), construction time from August 2021, expected to be completed in 2023.

Recently, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province has repeatedly requested the Ministry of Transport to handle the roadbed elevation of National Highway 19 through Tay Giang commune, Tay Son district.

The representative of Project Management Board 2 said that the old road surface elevation compared to the surrounding area (households' foundations) in Ta Giang 2 village is 0.5-3m higher on average because the old roadbed of National Highway 19 was designed to run on the watershed.

On April 29, Tay Son District People's Committee and Project Management Board 2 held a meeting to consult with the community and agreed on the design plan for bridges, roads and auxiliary works to ensure safety for the people, including the construction and expansion of the feeder road right in front of the sugar factory and on the left side of the Quy Nhon border.

Project Management Board 2 has adjusted the design plan, handed over the site clearance piles to the local authorities to carry out the inventory and apply compensation prices and develop a compensation plan to support the site clearance.

In some places, the road is 4 meters higher than the house floor.

Currently, the project has not received construction site and has not been permitted by the community to start construction.

Mr. Phan Chi Hung, Chairman of Tay Son District People's Committee, said that the District People's Committee is conducting a survey to determine compensation prices and develop a compensation plan to support land acquisition. However, because the land acquisition markers assigned by Project Management Board 2 are not clear, the District People's Committee is requesting Project Management Board 2 to re-assign the land acquisition markers. After that, the calculations will be made public to the people.

People said that many houses were cracked due to the road construction process.

“We direct that any unclear content must be immediately contacted with Project Management Board 2, specific milestones must be assigned, and urgent calculations must be made to make it public to the people. Regarding house cracks, we must work with Project Management Board 2, if possible, compensation must be given immediately…

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