According to the highway network planning in 2021 – 2030 period, vision to 2050 approved by Prime Minister on Sep. 1,2021 in Decision no. 1454/QD-TTg, the Eastern North-South Expressway has total length of 2,063 km from Lang Son (Huu Nghi border gate) to Ca Mau. In the past, the National Assembly and the Government have focused resources in investment in urgent sections (478 km has been operated, 829 km under constructioned). However, remaining 756 km has not been built thus the operation is not compatible, the project’s result has not been optimized. To complete the Eastern North-South Expressway soon, Ministry of Transport has been assigned by the Government to prepare pre-Feasibility Study for the Eastern North-South Expressway in 2021 – 2025 period (“The Project”).
The Project has been approved by the State Appraisal Council in the Appraisal Report no. 6111/BC-HDTDNN dated Sep. 11, 2021. The Government has collected opinions from Cabinet members and agreed to approve the contents of the Project’s pre-F/S.
On Sep. 22, 2021, the Government submitted its Submission Letter no. 334/TTr-CP to the National Assembly for consideration and approval of the investment intention in Eastern North – South Expressway Project in 2021 – 2025 period with below main contents:
- Project’s title: Eastern North-South Expressway Project in 2021 – 2025 period.
- Project group: Important national project.
- Project investment intention decider : National Assembly.
- Employer (pre-F/S step): Ministry of Transport.
- Brief of Investment Scope and Extent
5.1. Investment Extent
To complete the Eastern North-South Expressway in 2021 – 2025 period, it is necessary to invest in all 12 sub-projects, with total length of approx. 729 km passing 12 provinces and cities: Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, KHanh Hoa, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau.
After calculation and careful consideration in several aspects, following option is selected:
– In 2021 – 2025 period, 9/12 sub-projects will be invested, on 552 km length (including the sections: Bai Vot – Vung Ang (Ha Tinh), Quang Ngai – Nha Trang, Can Tho – Ca Mau) and implementation of land acquisition, resettlement in advance for the other 3 sub-projectson Vung Ang section (Ha Tinh) – Cam Lo (Quang Tri), 177 km long. Total investment cost is approx. VND124,619 billion, of which state fund is VND61,628.
– For the lacked part of state funds (approx. VND11,867 billion) for implementation of 3 sub-projects on Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) – Cam Lo (Quang Tri) section, the Government will review and balance in general state budget balance for transport sector in 2021 – 2025 period, after allocating funds for projects or balance from other appropriate funding source to implement soon in 2021 – 2025 period; in case the budget is limited, it will be moved to 2026 – 2030 period.
5.2. Size and Technical Class
a) Size
– According to the Highway Network Planning in 2021 – 2030, vision up to 2050, Ha Tinh – Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai – Nha Trang sections has 6 lanes in its completion phase, Can Tho- Ca Mau has 4 lanes in completion phase.
– 1st phase investment for 12 sub-projects on the Eastern North – South Expressway will be 4 lane (the pavement breadth is B = 17m); land acquisition, however, will be done fully once according to the approved size.
b) Technical class: The expressway standard with design speec of 80 – 120 km/hr (TCVN 5729 – 2012: expressway – Technical requirements).
6. Preliminary total investment in 2021 – 2025 period is VND124.619 billion. Including
– preliminary total investment of 9 sub-projects under PPP contract is about VND120,035 billion.
– preliminary total investment of 3 sub-projects on land acquisition, resettlement of Vung Ang – Bung, Bung – Van Ninh, and Van Ninh – Cam Lo sections (public investment category) is about VND 4,584 billion.
7. Funding Source
– State funds is about VND 61,628 billion.
– Non-state mobilized funds is about VND62,991.
8. Investment Mode, Contract Type
12 sub-projects are to be invested under Private – Public Partnership (PPP), Build – Operation -Transfer (BOT) contract types. For land acquisition, resettlement of 3 sub-projects in Vung Ang – Bung, Bung – Van Ninh, and Van Ninh – Cam Lo sections, they will be split into independent projects for implementation in 2021 – 2025 period in public investment type.
9. Preliminary Schedule and Project Implementation Time
– Project preparation: 2021 – 2022.
– Investor selection: 2022 – 2023.
– Construction: commencement is scheduled in 2023, completion will be in 2025.
For 3 sub-projects for Vung Ang – Bung, Bung – Van Ninh, and Van Ninh – Cam Lo sections, they will be implemented in 2021 – 2025 period, after the state budget can be arranged, in case it is difficult, they will be carried forward to 2026 – 2030 period.
In a short period of time (about 5 months), Transport Engineering Design, Inc. (TEDI) has focused the theam of experts, engineers to implement and complete the pre-Feasibility Study of the Project. And the Project has been submitted by the Government to the National Assembly for approval, as the basis for implementation of investment steps. This is the first investment of the transport sector on expressway implemented under BOT contract after the Investment Law on private – public partnership (PPP) comes into effect. Together with expressways under construction according to Resolution no. 52/2017/QH14, the Project, once completed, will crate an expressway axis with high circulation capacity, high speed, with improved traffic safety, with the view to create dynamics, drive to push the economic transformation, socioeconomic development, securing national defence, contributing to successfully implementation of socioeconomic development objectives, strategies approved by the 13th Communist Party Congress.
