Hanoi Party chief Dinh Tien Dung urged local authorities in Dong Da and Ba Dinh districts on April 5 to speed up land clearing so that the Ring Road 1 project can be completed next year.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung (center) visits the Ring Road 1 project in Dong Da and Ba Dinh districts on April 4. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi Party Committee Secretary stated during a tour of the Ring Road 1 construction site that the project's prolonged delay has resulted in cost overruns, impacted locals' quality of life, and jeopardized social security.

The 2.2-kilometer-long Ring Road 1 project connects Hoang Cau Street in Dong Da District with Voi Phuc Temple in Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District.

December 2017 saw the project kick-off, with an estimated capital of VND7.8 trillion (US$332.5 million), of which VND6.4 trillion (US$272.8 million) will be used for clearing land and VND627 billion (US$26.7 million) for construction. It was projected to be finished in 2020.

Dung said the project management unit must work with local authorities to study a feasible plan to compensate local people and help them resettle.

"We must give our people the best in land clearance and resettlement. Local authorities must also help people make a living," he said.

According to Dong Phuoc An, Director of the Public Infrastructure Construction Project Management Department, land clearance remains the biggest problem hindering the Ring Road 1 project.

He said that out of more than 2,000 families to be moved, about 440 households objected to the compensation and relocation plan.

According to Le Tuan Dinh, the head of the people's committee of Dong Da District, many families lack property entitlement documents, and "their houses were illegally constructed on state-owned property."

"The district authorities have offered the families a compensation plan, but they have been uncooperative," he added.

They won't receive compensation in line with market value and that, even with that payment, they won't be able to purchase new homes in the resettlement area," he said.

The head of the Ba Dinh District People's Committee, Ta Nam Chien, added that the district has frequently requested special financial aid from the local government for families who reject the compensation.

According to Duong Duc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will research the precedents to create a new compensation plan for locals while city officials will review the compensation plan for these households.