Accelerating the Progress of Public Investment Projects

Identifying infrastructure development as a top priority, the province is focusing on drastic measures to remove bottlenecks, shorten investment preparation time, and ensure the implementation progress of public investment projects in 2026, creating a driving force for socio-economic growth.

Perspective of the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh route, connecting the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway with the Hoa Binh - Son La Expressway.

According to the Department of Finance, in 2026, the province has allocated a total capital source of nearly 5,000 billion VND for 36 public investment projects. This includes over 1,470 billion VND from the Central budget for 2 projects; nearly 1,600 billion VND from the provincial budget for 21 projects; and 300 billion VND in counterpart funding for 2 key projects: Ring Road 5 (Hanoi Capital Region) from Vinh Thinh Bridge to the IC5 intersection of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, and the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh Expressway. Additionally, 1,500 billion VND from the provincial revenue surplus has been allocated for 16 other projects.

Despite the significant resources allocated, the progress of investment preparation remains slower than required. Specifically, only 6 projects have been appraised and approved for investment policy. Meanwhile, 17 projects are undergoing appraisal, and 13 projects have yet to submit documentation to the Appraisal Council.

Regarding the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh Expressway project (approx. 56km long, with a total estimated investment of 15,300 billion VND for the 2026-2030 period), Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang, Director of the Department of Construction, stated: "We are currently implementing procedures for appraising and approving investment preparation tasks and estimates. We aim to complete investment preparation within 2026. However, as this is a large-scale project, we must carefully review capital balancing to ensure feasibility and efficiency."

To ensure progress, the Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) requires investors to urgently coordinate with departments to finalize documentation for projects with approved investment policies. For projects nearing the construction phase, it is essential to complete the approval of construction designs, estimates, and contractor selection to ensure they are ready for implementation this year.

For projects still in the appraisal stage, especially in the fields of national defense and security, the PPC has assigned functional agencies to proactively coordinate and finalize procedures.

To maintain the overall schedule, the PPC demands heightened responsibility from heads of agencies and strengthened discipline in public investment management. Departments and localities must develop detailed schedules for each project and item, accelerating the appraisal of designs and estimates while ensuring legal compliance and quality.

Once contracts are signed, investors must collaborate closely with contractors to initiate procedures immediately and secure resources, materials, and equipment. Simultaneously, they must proactively resolve challenges regarding material supply to avoid disruptions. Departments and localities need to strengthen coordination and promptly report any issues beyond their authority to the PPC for resolution.

With high determination and the synchronized involvement of the entire political system, accelerating public investment projects will not only complete the infrastructure system but also provide a vital impetus for sustainable socio-economic growth in 2026 and the following years.

Khanh Duy