Tra Vinh Infrastructure Helps Boost Economy

Presently, there is only a single road to Tra Vinh town, Highway 53 starting from Highway I in Vinh Long and passing through several districts. The narrow road, some portions remain in dirt and weak bridges, has hampered socio-economic development, especially investment for industrial development. Therefore, it is essential to expand the road to Grade 3 meeting the demand of both ordinary vehicles and containers.

 

New Highway 60 along the coastline will bring more opportunities for Tra Vinh. The highway starts from Highway 1 at Trung Luong, linking together the provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang. It will shorten the distance 60-80 km and reduce traffic jam on Highway 1. The upgrading of the highway from My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City will also facilitate the communication of highway 60 to Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Ministry of Transport and related provinces are determined to upgrade highway 60. The main obstacles are the two rivers Co Chien and Hau Giang separating Tra Vinh with other provinces. According to the plan, by 2010, bridges will be built at Ham Luong, Rach Mieu and ferry landings at Co Chien (between Tra Vinh and Ben Tre) and Dai Ngai (between Tra Vinh and Soc Trang. Series of rural roads are being elevated to Grade 3.

 

Mr Phan Thanh Son, Director of Tra Vinh Transport Department said that with the completion of Ham Luong and Rach Mieu bridges, the traffic will be bottlenecked at Co Chien ferry landing. Therefore, Tra Vinh is calling for investments to build Co Chien bridge by BOT. The pre-feasibility study is ready with investment capital of some VND2,000 billion for the consideration of investors.

 

For water transport, Quan Chanh Bo channel will be opened in the Hau river for bigger ships connecting maritime transport at home and abroad. Presently, Dinh An river mouth is suitable only to ships of 5.000 DWT (ships of 6,000-7,000 DWT at high tide). Quan Chanh Bo channel can receive 10,000 DWT ships with full cargo and 20,000 DWT ships with less cargo. The project is calling for investment capital including Government bonds. The province plans to build Tra Cu commercial port in an area of 30 hectares with five berths for 5,000 DWT ships. Investments are also called for the project.

 

Since the re-establishment of the province, Tra Vinh Water Supply Company has increased the capacity from 7,000 cubic metres to 18,000 cubic metres a day. Beside upgrading the water supply of 600 cubic metres in districts of Cau Ngang, Duyen Hai and Tra Cu, the province has built new water supply stations of 1,200 cubic metres in urban areas of Cau Ke, Tieu Can, My Long and Cau Quan. So far, all urban areas of the province have been supplied with clean water (over 20,100 households). In total, including rural areas, 80 per cent of households have clean water.

 

Mr Nguyen Van Quy, Deputy Director of Tra Vinh Water Supply Company, disclosed that the company is seeking investments to double the water supply in Tra Vinh town to 36,000 cubic metres a day. The company also tries to reduce the leakage and increase the efficiency to ensure sufficient supply. Cau Ngang and My Long stations will be upgraded with JBIC credits (Japan). Investments are also needed for the upgrading of stations in Duyen Hai and Tra Cu towns for the urbanization until 2020.

 

In 1992, Tra Vinh could supply electricity to only 37 out of 76 wards and communes, or 48.7 per cent and only 8.6 per cent of households. By September 2006, all 102 wards and communes (100 per cent) have electricity, 87.34 per cent of households and 220KWH/person, up 11 times.

 

In the past 10 years, the power grid has been developed repeatedly by WB loans, French development assistance (AFD), JIBIC, etc. The distribution network has reached 75 communes and will continue in remaining communes.

 

Mr Nguyen Thanh Loc, Director of Tra Vinh Electricity Company said that the company has supplied electricity to enterprises in the province, especially those in Long Duc industrial zone. In implementation of Electricity Law, the company has developed power grid and transformer stations up to the projects and enterprises.

 

In the coming years, the company will step up the rural electrification programme ensuring 97 per cent of households having electricity by 2010, 400KWH/person/year and with stable and safe supply for socio-economic development.