Officials punished for expressway failings

A section of Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway.-VNA/VNS Photo Tran Tinh

Related to the defects on the expressway – a key highway in the central region – VEC has also taken disciplinary action against individuals and groups under its authority.

VEC issued warnings against four units under its authority: the Executive Boards for Packages No.4 and No.6, the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Project Management Board, and the Executive, Management and Operation Board for Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway (VECS).

It also gave warnings to five individuals, including two directors of executive boards, two staff in charge of construction for packages No.4 and No.6 and one deputy director and head of the operation and maintenance unit under VECS.

The 139km highway in the central region crossing through Quảng Ngãi and Quảng Nam provinces and Da Nang City was built in four years with total investment of VNĐ34.5 trillion (US$1.5 billion), sourced from official development aid from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank (WB).

The project is an important part of the north-south expressway. It is intended to alleviate traffic on the National Road No 1 and boost economic competitiveness for the central region.

A 65km Tam Kỳ-Quang Ngai section was opened to traffic in August last year.

The entire road was put into operation on September 2, but just weeks later, several potholes appeared.

The Ministry of Transport on October 11 suspended toll collection on the expressway to force its investor, VEC, to repair the road.

On October 17, the ministry allowed the resumption of toll collection and the repairs of defects on a key highway in the central region were finished.

Tran Van Tam, general director of VEC, said the suspension of toll collection caused the loss of VND600 million per day.

According to Tam, because the work is still under warranty, the contractor is fully responsible for repair costs and willing to cooperate with all inspection and examination agencies.