Transport Minister pledges to tackle corruption

The Minister of Transport recently said that he would deal with the situation of newly-built transport projects that deteriorate quickly.

Minister of Transport, Dinh La Thang, recently said that he would deal with the situation of newly-built transport projects that deteriorate quickly.

At a recent conference held to review the transport sector in 2012, the minister said, “This is a very large amount, and the quality of our roads and bridges should reflect that. But this issue has drawn the concern of the people, the government and the party. We must ensure that our infrastructure has an ensured lifespan."

He pointed to the project for the expansion of National Highway 1, specifically the section which runs through Ha Nam Province, as a typical example. Despite the fact that this section was just completed, it is already showing cracks, he said.

The Ministry of Transport has asked provincial authorities to assign responsibility to the agencies and individuals involved.

Corruption still prominent

According to Minister Thang, corruption in the transport sector remains a problem, with more leaders and key agency officials embroiled in scandals.

“There are a number of areas that are open to corruption, from construction, to vehicle and drivers’ license registration,” he added.

Between 2006 and 2011, 44 people involved 11 transport-related cases were prosecuted. During this period, 32 people were imprisonment on corruption charges and 119 officials were reprimanded for corruption-related violations. The total value of all these crimes was estimated to be VND3.94 billion (USD187,619).

The case concerning Vietnam Shipping (Vinalines) was the largest such scandal last year. The former chairman of the company, along with several accomplices, were arrested for their involvement.