On the morning of July 24, continuing the work program in Nghe An, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh - Member of the Politburo, Prime Minister and the missions conducted a field survey at the Vinh International Airport, the Cua Lo deep-water port planning, the coastal route and the project of renovation and expansion of National Highway 46, section Vinh - Nam Dan.

The missions were members of the Party Central Committee: Nguyen Van The - Minister of Transport; Hoang Xuan Chien - Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense.

Nghe An delegations were: Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; together with leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and representatives form departments and branches.

Provincial leaders reported to the Prime Minister on the investment plan to expand Vinh International Airport. Photo: Thanh Duy

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conducted survey at Vinh International Airport. Currently, the airport is operating an average of 35 flights/day, serving 6 airlines.

Vinh International Airport has been approved by the Ministry of Transport with a total area of 447.37 ha; However, the current limitation is Passenger Terminal T1 has been at maximum capacity, the frequency of flights is too large during peak times; the international passenger terminal has not met the requirements because it is renovated from old terminal; the runway number 1 with 2,400m long is only suitable for aircraft A320/A321 (aircraft code C) or equivalent, not suitable with large body aircraft code E such as A350, B777, B787...

In 2015, Vinh International Airport accommodated 1.376 million passengers, in 2020 it is 2,002 million passengers (up 45.5%). Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition, the quality of the runway surface has deteriorated, often requiring maintenance and repair; the apron can only accommodate a maximum of 6 aircraft, so it is often overloaded; there is no cargo terminal, hangar repair area….

Since 2018, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has implemented an investment project to expand Vinh International Airport. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to focus resources on investing in large-scale key projects and projects under Vinh International Airport have shifted to invest after 2025, so the extended project procedures were stopped.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded on the plan to expand Vinh International Airport on policy to attract investment in socialization. Photo: Thanh Duy

Based on the current status of Vinh International Airport's infrastructure, the growth rate of passengers passing through Vinh airport in recent years, from 2015 to 2020 increased by 45%. Forecasted for the next period, Nghe An province deliberated that in the current period it is very necessary to attract investment in expansion construction projects: Passenger Terminal T2 with a capacity of 10 million passengers/year; runway No. 2, apron, cargo terminal, hangar, traffic system and ancillary items, investment for the period 2022 - 2025 with a total budget of more than 10,700 billion VND.

After the survey, the Prime Minister agreed on the policy to attract investment in socialization in the Vinh international airport expansion project and assigned the Nghe An People's Committee to be the competent agency to implement the project; and to arrange the defense land in the Vinh International airport project to a new stability and long-term location.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh listened to an introduction about the planning and items of Cua Lo deep-water port. Photo: Thanh Duy

After that, the Prime Minister had field survey at Cua Lo deep-water port project in Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc district. It has been licensed for investment since December 2010 for International Transport Development Investment Joint Stock Company with a scale of VND 3,300 billion, including 2 berths and ancillary works.

However, the investor suggested to invest in a 1,450m-long breakwater and a channel with the state budget. Due to difficulties, it has not been able to arrange capital for investment, despite of efforts to access capital sources from the state budget or ODA.

The beach in Nghi Thiet commune, Nghi Loc district - Cua Lo deep-water port will be built. Photo: Thanh Duy

From the beginning of 2021, the Investor plans to restart the project, expected to start in the 4^th quarter of 2022 and complete in the 4^th quarter of 2025. Especially between the province and the investor, it was agreed that the investor side will invest in the breakwater, so the biggest difficulty of the project has been solved.

The investors proposed Nghe An province to invest in a bridge connecting 3,270m long, 11m wide National Highway 7C to the offshore port area, with a total investment of 1,789 billion VND. Currently, departments and branches has been assigned to compose investment proposals and prepare capital sources options.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed with the above adjustment plan to build Cua Lo deep-water port soon and strive to complete it in the 2020-2025 term.

The Head of the Government concluded on the plan and requirements for the Cua Lo deep-water port project. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Prime Minister also noted that the province needs to allocate public investment capital in the period 2021 - 2025 for site clearance to expand Vinh International Airport and build the bridge connecting National Highway 7C to Cua Lo deep-water harbor, because these are key projects, creating a driving force for the development of Nghe An. After Cua Lo deep-water port is built, it is necessary to pay attention to plan the surrounding areas, as well as protect the environment.

The Prime Minister also emphasized, when Cua Lo deep-water port is formed, Nghe An needs to simultaneously merge Vinh city and Cua Lo town, as well as some communes of neighboring districts to create larger development space and build Vinh city to become seaside city.

The Prime Minister discussed with provincial leaders at the construction site of the coastal road passing through Nghi Loc district, Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Duy

The coastal road from Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) to Cua Lo (Nghe An) with a total length of 78.9 km, is invested and built with 3 segments; 7km section built and completed in 2010; and 7.44km section was implemented in 2019 and has been basically completed so far.

The remaining 64.47km section has been constructed from February 2022 with the scale of delta road class III, total cost of 4,651 billion VND, expected to complete in February 2026. However, to soon connect the entire coastal route through Nghe An, the Provincial People's Committee directed to construct in 30 months, completing the second quarter of 2024 to quickly promote the efficiency of the project.

The coastal road section through Nghi Loc district, Nghe An is being urgently constructed. Photo: Thanh Duy

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents gifts to workers at the coastal road. Photo: Thanh Duy

Currently, the project has cleared agricultural, forestry and other land for 37.36km/59.91km of the sections (reaching 62%). The capital for 2022 is allocated VND 1,620 billion, which has also been disbursed at 69.24%.

Directly surveying the Nghi Loc district section, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the project progress, as well as the disbursement progress of public investment capital, and if it is maintained well, the capital from behind schedule project will be adjusted to allocate for this project.

The Prime Minister noted that investors, supervision consultants, design consultants and contractors need to give weekly briefings to review progress and quality; volume payments to timely motivate contractors; and take care of workers’ health in hot weather.

The Head of the Government directly inquired workers about work, income, and life at the construction site of the coastal road. Photo: Thanh Duy

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh discussed with the contractors of the coastal road project through Nghi Loc district. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Head of the Government emphasized to promptly report superiors if facing difficulties or problems beyond the scope of settlement; consultants must be regularly present at the scene; ensuring the planning of raw material mines for the project and handed over them to contractors or investors, not through intermediaries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated his opinion on plans to renovate and expand National Highway 46, section Vinh - Nam Dan. Photo: Thanh Duy

National Highway 46, section Vinh - Nam Dan with 16.6km length. Photo: Highway 46, section Hung Nguyen town, Hung Nguyen district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Next, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh surveyed and listened to reports on plans to renovate and expand National Highway 46, section Vinh - Nam Dan with a length of 16.6km. The new route has just had 6km/16.6km with a median (1m), the rest does not have a median, and some sections do not have sidewalks, lighting, affecting urban aesthetics, creating a landscape solution for the tourist route.

Source: baonghean.vn