Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were comrade Trần Tiến Dũng, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and Head of the provincial National Assembly Deputy Delegation; members of the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee; leaders of the provincial People’s Committee, former provincial leaders; leaders of Sơn La province, along with representatives of departments, branches, localities, enterprises, investors, and a large number of people in the project area.

The investment project for the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway section (phase 1) passing through Điện Biên province has a length of 48.3 km and a cross-section scale of 22 meters with 4 complete traffic lanes. Upon completion, the project will contribute to perfecting the transport network linking the Northwestern region, opening up new development room for commerce, logistics, tourism, and the border gate economy. This is a key transport infrastructure project with strategic significance in connecting the Northwestern region with economic centers, promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and expanding regional linkage space.

Organizing the groundbreaking for component project 1 demonstrates the determination of Điện Biên province in implementing the principle of “resettlement must stay one step ahead,” ensuring stable living conditions for relocated households, and creating a favorable premise for site clearance work and project implementation on schedule.

Component project 1 has an estimated total investment of VND 1,424 billion, using the local budget, with an implementation period from 2026 to 2028. According to the implementation scale, the total land area needing to be recovered and cleared is 766.29 hectares, of which the area serving the main route is 576.27 hectares, and the area serving waste dumps is 190.02 hectares.

Regarding population and infrastructure work, the project will carry out compensation, relocation, and resettlement for 276 households at 6 planned resettlement sites: Xuân Lao, Nậm Lịch, Pá Liếng, Mánh Đanh, Khẩu Cắm, and the Center of Mường Phăng commune. Simultaneously, it will relocate 69 medium and high-voltage power pole positions and 81 spiritual works of the people to ensure the site for construction.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Lê Thành Đô emphasized: Investing in the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway holds special importance in the province’s development strategy, contributing to expanding development space. The project is a concrete step toward the goal of the 15th provincial Party Congress Resolution to develop Điện Biên in a green, smart, and sustainable direction, becoming one of the region’s tourism centers and a fairly developed province in the Northwestern region.

To ensure the project is implemented on schedule with high quality and investment efficiency, comrade Lê Thành Đô requested the provincial Project Management Board of Transport Works, along with relevant departments, branches, and localities, to heighten their sense of responsibility, strengthen coordination, and proactively remove difficulties and obstacles. They must focus on effectively implementing site clearance and resettlement in accordance with regulations, ensuring openness and transparency, and absolutely avoiding loss, waste, and negativity.

Localities must promote propaganda and mobilize people to agree with the policy and actively coordinate in handing over the site; pay attention to caring for lives and ensuring living and production conditions, especially for resettled households, with the requirement that the new residence is equal to or better than the old one. Construction, consulting, and supervision units must organize construction scientifically, ensuring quality, schedule, occupational safety, and environmental protection. Concurrently, relevant agencies must urgently complete legal procedures and fully prepare conditions to deploy component project 2, determined to complete the entire project synchronously and effectively. The people in the project area must reach a consensus, coordinate, and promote the role of community supervision.

At the ceremony, leaders of Điện Biên and Sơn La provinces, along with representatives of project implementation units, conducted the groundbreaking ritual, officially launching component project 1 under the investment project for the Sơn La - Điện Biên - Tây Trang Border Gate expressway section (phase 1).