Land clearance holds up bridge work

March 04, 2011 | 17:56

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Nhat Tan Bridge Project must be finished by the fourth quarter of 2013 under a decision by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

illustration photo

Initial plans called for the 3.9-km bridge connecting Tay Ho and Dong Anh districts to be finished by 2012, but land clearance delays have obstructed completion of the bridge.

Nhat Tan Bridge is expected to be the longest cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam . Total capital investment for construction will reach VND13,600 billion ($655 million) from Japan 's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the Vietnamese Government.

The Ministry of Transport's Project Management Unit 85 (PMU) has been assigned to build the bridge.

Vu Quang Dung, a representative of PMU 85 said: "Only 90 per cent of land clearance has been completed so far."

Almost of all of the local households agreed to accept the level of compensation offered by the People's Committee after it was increased up to one and a half times. Only 32 of 400 total households in the Phu Thuong Ward in Tay Ho district are still holding out, Dung said.

The highest compensation level is VND30.6 million ($1,470) per square metre, said Nguyen Thanh Tinh, chairman of the Phu Thuong Ward People's Committee.

To ensure project implementation, the Ha Noi People's Committee has urged the Tay Ho district People's Committee to hand over all required land for the project to investors before May 30, said Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the committee.

Nhat Tan Bridge , one of seven bridges planned to cross Red River, is expected to shorten travel time for vehicles travelling from the city centre to Noi Bai International Airport .

VIR/VNA

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