Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministryof Transport (MoT) has approved plans to select contractors for 11 sub-projectsof the North-South expressway project, according to the ministry.

The ministry reported at a meeting inHanoi on December 11 that it has instructed the project’s management board topromptly complete bidding documents.

Regarding land clearance for theconstruction of the eastern section of the project, the MoT has sent documents tolocalities which the sub-projects run through to inform them about theestimated area for the construction.

Seven out of 11 land clearance councilshave been established to serve the sub-projects, it added.

Concluding the working session, DeputyPrime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung highlighted the significance of the North-Southexpressway project to national socio-economic development.

Once operational, the project will helpreduce travelling time and costs as it forms an uninterrupted transport network,while contributing to tourism and trade development in those localities, hesaid.

It will also connect major cities,economic centres, and zones with seaports, international airports, industrialparks, and coastal economic areas, the official added.

The Deputy PM emphasised the need toswiftly complete the project’s technical designs and land clearance asscheduled.

He asked the MoT to propose specificmeasures to ensure the supply of construction materials for the project and reportthem to the Government and the Prime Minister for approval.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Constructionwas asked to review and adjust the cost of project management and consultationin January 2019 in line with legal regulations.

TheNorth-South Expressway has a total length of over 2,100km, traversing 32provinces and cities. The project is divided into three phases.

During 2017-2020, more than 650km of the roadrunning through 13 provinces and cities will be built. There are 11sub-projects in this period.

From 2021-2025, the sections of Bai Vot (Ha Tinhprovince)-Cam Lo (Quang Tri province) and Quang Ngai province-Nha Trang (KhanhHoa province) will be constructed. Meanwhile, the section from La Son (ThuaThien-Hue province) to Tuy Loan (Da Nang city) will be upgraded from two lanesto four lanes.

The section from Can Tho city to Ca Mau city ofCa Mau province will be built and put into operation after 2025.

Total investment for the project during 2017-2020will be 118.7 trillion VND (5.2 billion USD), including 55 trillion VND (2.4billion USD) from the Government and the remainder raised from investorsthrough the public-private partnership model. –VNA