North-South Expressway delayed by slow land acquisition

According to the Transport Engineering Construction and Quality Management Bureau, 13 localities where 11 sections of the expressway are now being built have handed over 630 kilometers out of the 652 km required.

The expressway will run a total of 1,799 kilometers between Hanoi and the southern city of Can Tho parallel to National Highway 1A. Over 300 km of it have been completed.

The delay in acquiring land is due to tardy construction of resettlement areas and relocation of infrastructure like power and telecommunications lines and water pipes.

Of 111 resettlement areas that need to be built, 91 are completed, 19 are under construction and one is still awaiting approval.

The total land costs are estimated at VND12.4 trillion ($526.3 million) and 3,690 households have to be moved out of 4,835 hectares of land.

Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce pressure on the overloaded National Highway 1A.