Da Lat Lake Road Project Delayed by Land Disputes, Budget Soars

Nearly five years after its commencement, a crucial road project connecting to Da Lat's scenic Xuan Huong Lake is still far from completion. The delay stems primarily from unresolved land clearance issues, with 11 households yet to relinquish their property.

Despite the ongoing challenges, the project has been allocated nearly 19 billion VND for 2026. However, the lack of cooperation from the remaining landowners is stalling critical construction phases, particularly the embankment work along the stream. The project management board is working with local authorities to negotiate compensation and encourage the handover of land.

The prolonged delays have significantly impacted the project's finances. Initially budgeted at 138 billion VND, the cost has ballooned to over 261 billion VND, a near doubling attributed largely to increased compensation expenses. The completion deadline has been pushed back to the end of 2026, highlighting the persistent difficulties in overcoming land acquisition hurdles in urban development projects.