Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision adjusting the investment plan for the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway project, which has loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Under the decision, the project’s total investment capital will be cut by VND1.247 trillion ($526 million) to VND30 trillion ($1.268 billion).

The project will receive a loan of more than VND8 trillion ($337 million) from the ADB, down by VND5.58 trillion ($237 million) from the initial plan, and nearly VND10.59 trillion ($446 million) from JICA, down by over VND1.388 trillion ($58 million). Reciprocal capital is estimated at more than VND3.87 trillion ($163 million).

The project investor, the Vietnam Expressway Development Investment Corporation (VEC), will supplement capital by over VND7.54 trillion ($316 million).

Construction of the 58-km Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway began in 2014, running through the Mekong Delta province of Long An, the southern province of Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City.

It was initially expected to be completed in 2020, but fell behind schedule due to difficulties in site clearance and capital arrangements.

The Prime Minister decided to extend the project’s timeframe to September 2025.