The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed that the Prime Minister direct relevant agencies and localities to take measures to tackle difficulties in exploiting and supplying sand for the construction of the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway section of the Eastern North-South Expressway.

Construction of the section began nearly a year ago but has been facing delays due to a shortage of construction materials. Just 15 per cent of work has been completed.

The current volume of sand supplied to the project is estimated at 22,000 cu m a day, meeting just 25 per cent of demand.

The MoT proposed that the Prime Minister direct the People’s Committees of the Mekong Delta’s An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long provinces to create the conditions for contractors to exploit new sand mines this month to supply sand for the construction of the expressway section.

Authorities in these provinces should also review and adopt plans to increase the capacity of existing sand mines or add new mines to ensure the supply of sand as assigned by the Prime Minister earlier this year, including 7 million cu m in An Giang, 7 million cu m in Dong Thap, and 5 million cu m in Vinh Long, before June 30, 2024, according to the MoT.

Connecting the Mekong Delta’s Can Tho city and southernmost Ca Mau province, the section stretches 109 km and has total investment capital of over VND27.2 trillion ($1.13 billion).