The leaders of districts, wards, departments, and project management boards bear the responsibility of ensuring timely disbursement progress, with their performance being considered a criterion for quarterly and annual evaluations.

Hanoi's Mayor Tran Sy Thanh at the meeting. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh stressed this view at a meeting to discuss the city's public investment works in the second quarter on July 18.

A Department of Planning and Investment report showed that the disbursement of public investment funds in Hanoi in the first half of 2023 amounted to VND15.93 trillion (US$673.78 million), reaching 33.9% of the planned target.

Of this, VND9 trillion (US$380.6 million) was allocated to public investment projects at the city level, reaching 34.8% of the plan, while the district budget accounted for VND6.84 trillion (US$289.3 million), reaching 34.4% of the plan.

However, the city's overall disbursement results fell short of both plans, which were set at 40-45%.

As of June 2023, 105 projects under the 2023 capital plan were facing various problems, the department said.

Among them were 73 projects facing delays due to site clearance issues, 11 facing difficulties with grave relocation, and 16 facing resettlement challenges, among others.

In addition, 21 projects in the 2022 capital plan had ongoing problems with site clearance, raw material prices, environmental impact assessment, asset liquidation, and investment level adjustment.

Construction of Vinh Tuy Bridge Phase 2. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

Despite achieving a disbursement rate of nearly 34%, which is higher than the same period in 2022 (nearly 24%) and higher than the national average, Deputy Chairman of the City People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan expressed concern about the prospects of failing to reach 100% disbursement rate by year-end, as numerous difficulties and obstacles remain.

While some units have relatively high disbursement rates, such as Tay Ho (78.7%), My Duc (77.6%), and Long Bien (63%), several others are significantly lower, including Hoang Mai (24%), Thanh Xuan (23.2%), Son Tay (12.1%), Cau Giay (3.6%), and the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center (0.1%).

Public investment has been a key task for Hanoi in an effort to boost socio-economic development, especially since the capital's administrative boundary expansion 15 years ago. 

Tuan called on all city units to make greater efforts in the remaining months of the year to strengthen their responsibilities, with a special focus on managing disbursement and addressing difficulties and obstacles to ensure effective plan implementation.

In his concluding remarks, Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, praised and highly appreciated the units' dedicated participation in the disbursement of public investment funds.

However, he also acknowledged the existing coordination problems between units and departments and emphasized the need to promptly identify and address these problems. The Chairman emphasized the critical role of investors in improving project efficiency and disbursement, especially in the critical phases.

Regarding project implementation and disbursement, Thanh emphasized that the site clearance process, especially for transport projects, remains a weak point.

He ordered the compilation of statistics on projects funded by the city, central government, and mixed capital with land problems.

"These statistics will be reported to the municipal Party Standing Committee for leadership and guidance in coordination with the districts," he noted.

Stressing the importance of 2023 as a critical year in the implementation of the five-year socio-economic development plan 2020-2025, Thanh emphasized the need for units to be proactive and involved at all stages, from investment policies to investment decisions.

"Leaders of district-level People's Committees, department heads, and project management boards are responsible for the progress of disbursement, which will be considered a criterion for quarterly and annual performance evaluations," Thanh said.