Just south of Cambodia’s Takeo and Kandal provinces, more than 806 billion dong ($35 million) has been mobilised over the last few years to build 581 new rural bridges in Vietnam’s An Giang province.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province earlier this month reviewed its five-year project on using private investment for rural bridges.

The province has numerous canals, ditches and rivers that have caused difficulties for transportation and local economic development, especially in rural areas.

Provincial Department of Transport director Nguyen Phu Tan said the project achieved 120.7 per cent of the target, exceeding the plan of 100 bridges.

The project was estimated to cost 1.5 trillion dong, including 480 billion from the private sector and the remainder from the State Budget.

As a result, the total of 806 billion dong exceeded the targeted amount.

Tan said: “The province gained success in the project thanks to the joint efforts of local government, residents and sponsors.”

Residents contributed 117,164 workdays and donated more than 1,500sqm of land to build the bridges.

The province plans to build seven new bridges in Tinh Bien district, with a total cost of 11.5 billion dong. The district shares a 20km border with Cambodia’s Kiri Vong, Koh Andet and Borei Cholsar districts in Takeo province.

Many bridges are expected to be built in Chau Doc city in the coming time.

Provincial People’s Committee vice-chairman Le Van Nung praised the contributions of organisations, businesses and sponsors that took part in social charity activities in the province, including building new rural bridges.

He called on them to continue supporting the project in the 2020-2025 period.

He asked local authorities to have a regular maintenance plan to ensure quality and long-term use of the bridges.

The committee awarded certificates of merit to 148 organisations, businesses and sponsors for their contributions to the implementation of rural bridges in the province in the 2016-2020 period.

VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK