HCMC – The HCMC Beltway No. 3 project is facing a shortage of construction material due to sand supply disruptions for a 6.84-kilometer section of the beltway in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.
Contractors have reported that the sand mines designated for the project have ceased operations.
In particular, mines such as Dong Phu in Vinh Long Province, Binh Thanh in Dong Thap Province, Vom Cai Thia, Hoa Khanh 1, and Nam Con Da in Tien Giang Province have seen their exploitation permits expire. The sand mine on the Co Chien River in Tra Vinh Province remains unlicensed.
Sand mining in An Giang Province on the Tien and Hau rivers has been temporarily closed for inspection. Authorities have also sought out sand mines in Ben Tre Province, but none have received permits.
The only sand mine with an extended permit, valid until December 31, is located along the Tien River in Dong Thap Province. However, it can only be used for projects within the province.
HCMC Beltway No. 3, which is 76 kilometers long and costs VND75.4 trillion, will pass through HCMC and three neighboring provinces — Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Long An.
In Long An Province, construction began on June 30, and about VND138 billion out of the VND309 billion investment plan for the project has been disbursed, accounting for 44.7% of the total.
Dang Hoang Tuan, director of the Long An Department of Transport, said the total investment capital is expected to be distributed by the end of 2023.
