Dearth of funds results in a road of misery for Hoa Binh

Two years ago, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) assigned the province’s Department of Transport as an investor in upgrading the 12B national road. Original plans called for the work to be completed by the end of 2012, but just one-third of the construction work has been done so far.

The 12B national road, stretching 42 kilometres in the northern province, is  considered as a nightmare for any driver.  Pocked with big potholes and other damage, drivers currently need four hours to cover the route, traveling at about 10 kilometres per hour. The road is regarded as an important link between the delta provinces and the northwest mountains.

“The issue is that we don’t have funds to continue constructing this road,” said Lo Khai, head of  Hoa Binh Department of Transport’s Project Management Office.

According to the MoT, this was a government bond-funded project with total investment capital of $23.7 million. But since the upgrading project was started in 2010, Hoa Binh Department of Transport had received only $2.8 million, said Khai.

“We were informed that the MoT will provide this project with $4.3 million in 2013 and around $1 million in 2014. But even if we get that amount of money, it is still insufficient,” Khai said.

Special action would be required to expedite funds.  The MoT in March announced that this road was on the list of delayed projects until after 2015 in accordance with the government’s Resolution 11. Resolution 11, issued late last year, introduced a package of measures to tame inflation.

Meanwhile, the road continues to deteriorate. Every time it rains, traffic jams will happen as hundreds of trucks are stuck in this flooded road,” said Bui Van Thang, vice chairman of Lac Son district, Hoa Binh, where the road runs along.

“If we don’t complete this project soon, the cost will increase,” said Khai. Thang said this road caused great suffering for  residents. “This muddy road is affecting the lives of everyone here and it affects economic development of our district,” said Thang.

Last month, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group expressed interest in building a garment factory in Yen Lac, but the group  later decided to move to another place due to this  road, said Thang. “We just wish the government would complete the upgrading of this project soon,” he added.

Residents living alongside the road also wish this road was complete soon. According to Lac Son and Yen Thuy districts, residents agreed to offer their land to the project and receive compensation later.