The Ministry of Construction has just reported to the Prime Minister on the investment plan to expand the eastern sections of the North-South Expressway under the public-private partnership (PPP) method.
Dividing the project into 2 is appropriate.
According to the report of the Ministry of Construction, the North-South expressway has an expanded research scope including 18 sections (of which 3 sections have been invested in the form of BOT and 15 sections have been and are being invested in the form of public investment), with a length of 1,144km, not including 8 sections (Phap Van-Cau Gie, Cau Gie-Cao Bo, Da Nang-Quang Ngai; 4 sections are being invested in for expansion including: Cao Bo-Mai Son, Cam Lo-La Son, La Son-Hoa Lien, Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh); the Hoa Lien-Tuy Loan section under investment has been put into operation and is being invested in according to the scale of a complete expressway.
According to the research results, because the northern region (Mai Son-National Highway 45-Nghi Son-Dien Chau) and southern region (Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet-Dau Giay) sections have high financial efficiency, while the central region sections have low financial efficiency, requiring state capital support. Therefore, the Ministry of Construction has proposed investment options combining the sections to ensure synchronization and minimize state capital support.
For the 3 sections currently operating under BOT (Dien Chau-Bai Vot, Nha Trang-Cam Lam, Cam Lam-Vinh Hao, total length 178km, preliminary total investment of about 25,343 billion VND), the Ministry of Construction has recently worked with investors. Due to low attractiveness, investors proposed that the expansion needs State capital support.
According to the provisions of the Road Law, to continue to expand these sections under the BOT form, the Ministry of Construction will continue to negotiate with existing investors. If necessary, it can study the combination of these sections with the remaining sections to increase the financial attractiveness of the project.
For 15 sections that have been and are being invested in by public funds (length 966km, preliminary investment capital 126,758 billion VND), the Ministry of Construction has studied options for dividing the number of projects.
In case of dividing into 2 projects, including: The Northern project will include 8 sections from Mai Son to Cam Lo, 415km long, with a total investment of about 59,632 billion VND. The Southern project will include 7 sections from Quang Ngai to Dau Giay, 551km long, with a preliminary total investment of about 67,127 billion VND.
Regarding the plan to divide into 2 projects, the Ministry of Construction has received proposals from a number of enterprises: Xuan Truong, VIDIFI... interested in the project in the Northern region. A number of enterprises such as: Deo Ca Group, Son Hai Group... interested in the project in the Southern region.
With the plan to divide into 5 or 6 projects, up to now, the Ministry of Construction has received proposals from 4 interested enterprises including: Truong Thinh (Bung-Van Ninh-Cam Lo, 115km long); 194 (Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet-Dau Giay, 200km long); Phuong Thanh (Vung Ang-Bung-Van Ninh, Phan Thiet-Dau Giay, 203km long); Rang Dong (Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet-Dau Giay, 200km long).
The Ministry of Construction believes that the options for dividing the number of projects have received attention from potential investors. However, dividing into fewer projects will help shorten the total toll collection time, improve synchronization in the implementation process, optimize investment, operation, exploitation and maintenance costs, so the option of dividing into 2 projects is considered quite suitable.
Striving to start construction in the second quarter of 2026
In the next investment preparation process, the Ministry of Construction will conduct specific research on the scope of the project to reduce the level of state capital participation, be able to mobilize investors, and facilitate investment, management, and exploitation.
In case special mechanisms and policies are needed, the Ministry of Construction will implement procedures to report to competent authorities and report to the National Assembly at the October 2025 session.
In addition, according to the provisions of the Road Law, the sections currently invested by the state (Cao Bo-Mai Son, Cam Lo-La Son, La Son-Hoa Lien, Hoa Lien-Tuy Loan) will be tolled after completion. The Ministry of Construction will consider and study combining toll collection with the expanded BOT sections and assign the investor (expansion project) to manage and maintain to ensure consistency and optimize costs.
Based on traffic volume and actual situation of the sections, the Ministry of Construction expects to complete the entire expansion investment in the 2026-2030 period with the main progress milestones for the fastest deployed section being striving to decide on investment in the first quarter of 2026, striving to start construction in the second quarter of 2026; striving to complete and put into operation in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Affirming that the expansion of the North-South Expressway in the East is a major policy in the new context of resources and socio-economic development of the country, the Ministry of Construction proposed that the Prime Minister agree on the policy of dividing the number of projects according to the plan reported by the Ministry of Construction above and assign the Ministry to organize the preparation of a feasibility study report and carry out the next necessary steps according to regulations.
In the immediate future, the Ministry of Construction will organize toll collection for the sections after completion in accordance with the National Assembly Resolution and the Road Law (expected from January 2026). After selecting investors, the Ministry of Construction will hand over toll collection work according to the project contract./.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/phuong-an-moi-nhat-dau-tu-mo-rong-cac-doan-tuyen-cao-toc-bac-nam-theo-ppp-post293740.html
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