TTO - These days, on the construction site of Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway project, many workers and technicians try to hold back homesickness, straining to work in order meet the expectations of more than 21 million people in the Mekong Delta: connect the route by the end of 2020.
Mr. Phan Hoa Hiep said that although the construction site is not far from home, he still volunteered to stay to work throughout Tet - Photo: M.TR.
Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway project has a total length of 51.1 km, located entirely in Tien Giang province. The starting point is at the intersection of Than Cuu Nghia (connecting Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway), the ending point at the intersection with National Road 30 in Cai Be district.
The total adjusted investment is VND 12,668 billion, of which the State budget supports for the project is VND 2,186 billion.
Although house is nearby, still stay at the construction site
Under the burning midday sunlight, Mr. Phan Hoa Hiep (48 years old, Vinh Long) repairing the bulldozer to prepare for the afternoon job, leveling the main ground of Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway at intersection of Than Cuu Nghia.
The construction site where Mr. Hiep is constructing located right next to the existing Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway with interconnected vehicles rushing to the Western provinces for Tet holiday.
Sometimes Mr. Hiep glances up at the vehicle flow and click his tongue: “Try to work a few more days and then come back to my hometown to offer incense for grandparents, take a day off and come back again. Although in days off but if anyone busy or need to take a break, I’m always ready to replace for them, I'm nearby”.
Mr. Hiep is a bulldozer driver, undertake the task of leveling the ground, one of the most important stages in the construction process.
Despite nearly 10 years of following construction works, contributing to the formation of artery roads all over the country, for Mr. Hiep, this is a sacred mission because this is the first time he was involved in a major traffic project, an extended expressway to the Western provinces, passing through his homeland but has repeatedly failed for years.
He had heard about this project when he has not begun his job, now it has been 10 years, he himself continues to carry out the unfinished stages of the project.
“Therefore, if I have to “sacrifice” the New Year holidays to serve the works expected by millions of people in the West, I think it is deserved”, Mr. Hiep said.
It should not be missed appointment with people in the West
Not a Westerner but the young engineer native of Phu Yen province Huynh Tan Tai, leader of Group 1 of the Project Management Board of Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway admits that he “fell in love” with the local people after a short time take in charge of this project.
Mr. Tai recounted that although he did construction works everywhere from North to South but there was no place that people were as sincere and affectionate as the Western people.
Workers construct overnight on the construction site of Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway Project - Photo: MAU TRUONG
“In the time taking on the task of site clearance, with the enthusiatic support in all aspects from the peoples here, I feel we need to work harder to deserved the hearts of the Western people” - Mr. Tai said.
Known as “the construction guy”, adrifted from construction to construction, with the seasoned winds and sunlight, Mr. Tai has never missed a spring appointment with his native Phu Yen. No matter where the construction is, how far away, at any size, he spends at least a week with his family to celebrate Tet, meet with neighbors. For him, only in his homeland can Tet really be.
But this year is different. Mr. Tai said: “These days, the people keep asking us when will the expressway be completed? Will it open with Tet next year? Being sympathetic to the expectations of the people, we will not break the promisse with the people of the West again.
Putting aside the personal joys, a reunion Tet with family, we volunteered to stay and burn ourselves on the construction site to ensure the proposed schedule”.
Anyone who has ever celebrated Tet in the Central region once will understand why these days, the mood of Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dat - construction workers at An Thai Trung intersection (the end of Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway) – be like.
“Always in festive mood, miss the cool air, the drizzle and the nights with friends drunken beside the fiery pot of Chung cake. Although very homesick, want to reunite with the family on New Year's Day but this year the brothers all agreed and encouraged each other to stay. All of us unanimous to complete the task that superiors set out, connect the route in the end of 2020” - Mr. Dat said.
Huynh Tan Tai, leader of group 1 of the Management Board of Trung Luong - My Thuan project (white shirt), said this was the first Tet holiday away from home.
The construction site is home
Sitting in front of a temporary shack on the construction site, Mr. Le Phu Thieu (69 years old, native of Ninh Thuan) groped beside the work records and a few bullet points about the food and drinks to buy for New Year’s Eve in the next few days. Mr. Thieu was a security guard protecting warehouse and machines.
“I haven't gone home for four Tet. After many Tet at the construction site, I got used to it. Ofcourse, I miss my wife and chilren and more than ten grandchildren in the countryside. But I am older, let anyone with small children can take opportunities to come home, it is okay for me to stay for one more Tet holiday. If I leave all here to return to my hometown, what if there is any loss or damage affecting the work and process so will I feel guilty with the expectations of the people in the West”, Mr. Thieu said gently.
The workers and leaders of Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT Company cook Banh Tet to prepare for Tet on the construction site - Photo: MAU TRUONG
Although everyone ignores the joy to focus on work, but in the eyes of the people away from home, they cannot hide all the sadness.
“There will be a lot of people in our team not come back home fror Tet, but don't be sad because the construction site is home too. It's all for a bigger task is not to break the promise with 21 million people in the Mekong Delta” - Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT Joint Stock Company, motivating workers and engineers.
According to Mr. Hoang, even with the spirit of speedy construction to finish the project on time, the firm still has to organize for the workers to welcome spring on the construction site fully, cosy, ensuring traditional customs and especially to cushion the homesickness of the brothers.
Connecting the route by end of 2020, officially open in 2021 Inspecting Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway Project on January 17, the Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said to ensure the progress of the project, many workers had to work through Tet. Therefore, investors and owners of construction units must pay attention to fully addressing regimes, policies and incentives for laborers. The Minister requested the investor and the construction units to praise the managers and workers on the construction site during the Tet holiday, ensuring the working performance, trying to meet the construction schedule as directed by the Prime Minister is connect the route by end of 2020 and officially open in 2021 Mr. Nguyen Tan Dong, General Director of Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT Joint Stock Company said that the construction during the Tet holiday has been carefully prepared to ensure the progress, quality and safety. “We also have a program to celebrate Spring Festival for workers at the construction site so that all managers and workers have Tet atmosphere like at home” - Mr. Dong affirmed. |
MAU TRUONG
