Gov’t asks Dong Nai to build bridge to HCMC

The Government has assigned Dong Nai Province to build a new bridge and road linking its new city of Nhon Trach with HCMCs District 9 to promote economic connectivity between the two key localities in the southern focal economic zone.

The Government has assigned Dong Nai Province to build a new bridge and road linking its new city of Nhon Trach with HCMCs District 9 to promote economic connectivity between the two key localities in the southern focal economic zone.

In a notice issued by the Governments Office last week, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai allowed Dong Nai authorities to mobilize funds for developing and operating Nhon Trach bridge and road under the build-operate-transfer form.

With this notice, the key responsibility in developing this costly infrastructure project is given to Dong Nai rather than the Transport Ministry or HCMC.

In July, the government asked the Transport Ministry to transfer the project to HCMC and Dong Nai, and required the two localities to work together on an investment plan and construction management.

However, many foreign investors have met with Dong Nai authorities to express their interest in building the bridge and road project, resulting in the Governments move to hand most of the job over to Dong Nai.

According to the notice, Deputy PM Hai assigned Dong Nai Province to invite investors, develop and manage the whole project while the HCMC government was asked to cover site clearance for the project on the citys precincts only.

The bridge and road project was first planned in 2001, when the Government named the Transport Ministry as the developer for the project comprising approach roads of 17.5km and a 2.2-km bridge across the Dong Nai River.

As per the ministrys plan in 2004, nearly VND2.2tril (US$137.5mil) was needed for building the 120-meter-wide road and a four-lane bridge.

However, the Transport Ministry and relevant agencies have faced many difficulties in mobilizing funds, so the Government later told HCMC and Dong Nai Province to seek investors for the project and manage it.

The project once in place will shorten the distance between HCMC and Dong Nai as well as help facilitate traffic and foster trade in the southern focal economic zone, which groups the two localities plus Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau among others.

Dong Nais Vice Chairman Ao Van Thinh said the planned Nhon Trach Bridge would help reduce the traffic load between HCMC and Dong Nai Province via the current deteriorated Dong Nai Bridge.

Last year, Britains Dorman Long Technology worked with Dong Nai authorities to explore the possibility of developing the project. Besides, South Koreas Kumho Industrial has completed a feasibility study, in which around US$330mil is needed for building the road and bridge project.

(Source: SGT)