Super railway projects prepare conditions for "running"

At the most recent meeting of the Steering Committee for Key Railway Projects, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested localities to simultaneously clear land for the two North-South high-speed railway projects and the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong route on August 19.

Also at the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the site clearance work has been separated from the investment project and assigned to the provinces and cities to implement. This means that from ministries, branches to localities, they will have to open a "race" for progress, to urgently hand over the route to carry out the next steps.

Lao Cai- Hanoi -Hai Phong Railway reclaims 2,754 hectares of land with 8,088 households affected

According to the approved project investment policy, the project passes through 9 provinces and cities. After the merger from July 1, 2025, the project passes through 6 provinces and cities. The provinces and cities have established the Land Acquisition Steering Committee, which is actively implementing. Statistics on land acquisition area and number of affected households: 6/6 localities have counted, total acquisition area: 2,754.74 hectares, total number of affected households: 8,088 households.

Before July 15, localities where the North-South high-speed railway project passes through need to urgently complete the Steering Committee for site clearance. Illustrative photo

Surveying and cadastral map adjustment: 4/6 localities (Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hung Yen, Hai Phong ) have achieved 100%. Reviewing technical infrastructure shows that 1/6 localities, specifically Hai Phong, have listed the projects for site clearance, intersections, and are organizing investment projects for relocation. Reviewing social infrastructure, 2/6 localities, including Lao Cai and Phu Tho, have listed the projects: Industrial parks, water pipes, schools, and are organizing investment projects for relocation.

Regarding the implementation of resettlement areas, the Ministry of Construction said that, up to this point, 6/6 localities have identified the locations of about 117 resettlement areas with an area of about 169.34 hectares. 3/6 localities (Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hai Phong) are implementing investment and construction work. Resettlement areas are expected to start construction in December 2025: By July 8, 2025, localities announced plans to implement 84/117 resettlement areas from July 2025 to December 2025 (of which: Lao Cai started construction of 31 resettlement areas; Phu Tho started construction of 44 resettlement areas; Hai Phong started construction of 9 resettlement areas). Meanwhile, localities (Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen) have not yet submitted a review report. Regarding the selection of resettlement area locations to start construction on December 19, 2025, up to now, localities have not specifically determined and sent them to the Ministry of Construction to synthesize and report to the Prime Minister.

About 300 sets of standards are needed for electrified railways and high-speed railways. Regarding electrified railway projects and the North-South high-speed railway project, the Railway Project Management Board (Ministry of Construction) has submitted a report to the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and Construction Materials for advice so that the Ministry can provide guidance and report to the Government to develop a suitable system of standards. Regarding the translation and collection of standard documents, for electrified railway projects, based on the receipt of the Vietnam Railway Authority, the Railway Project Management Board has received 88 sets of standards and completed the translation work since May 30. Regarding high-speed railway standards, the Board has also coordinated with the University of Transport and the University of Transport Technology to organize the translation and completion. A representative of the Railway Project Management Board said: "For electrified railway projects, about 300 sets of standards are needed, but now there are only 88 sets. In the coming time, with many solutions, we will ensure a complete system of appropriate standards and regulations to implement electrified railway and high-speed railway projects."

Regarding capital deployment, the Prime Minister has decided to adjust the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period of the Ministry of Construction, including allocating about VND 2,000 billion for the project. The Railway Project Management Board has sent a document to localities to make a disbursement plan for 2025; notify the name of the Investor, account holder, and account number to allocate compensation, support, and resettlement work to the Railway Project Management Board no later than July 15, 2025.

High-speed railway project on the North-South axis: The coordinates of the route have been handed over.

According to the approved project investment policy, the project passes through 20 provinces and cities; after the merger from July 1, 2025, the project passes through 15 provinces and cities including: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City. Up to now, the Investor has handed over the coordinates of the route centerline, the boundary of the route and stations according to the preliminary design to the localities. 8/20 localities (before the merger) have established a Steering Committee, some localities have not completed it according to the Prime Minister's request (completed before July 1, 2025), due to the implementation of the organization of 2-level government related to the personnel of the Steering Committee. Many localities have reviewed the resettlement needs and have preliminary data on the resettlement needs to serve the project. Regarding the project implementation, according to the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry has directed the Investor to coordinate with localities and related units to discuss, resolve difficulties and implement procedures for building resettlement areas. At the same time, the bidding deadline has been extended. While waiting for the competent authority to decide on the form of project investment, the Investor continues to extend the bidding deadline to September 3, 2025. The Ministry of Construction has also sent the Ministry of Finance a number of proposal documents from investors (4 investors) to the Ministry of Construction. In addition, the Ministry of Construction has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Prime Minister the establishment of a State Appraisal Council and an Advisory Council to select the form of investment and investors.

However, the Ministry of Construction also recommends that for localities where the project passes through, it is necessary to urgently establish and complete the Steering Committee for Land Acquisition and Clearance (after merging provinces and implementing 2-level local government) before July 15, 2025. Review and plan the construction of resettlement areas, select locations to start construction according to the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and send to the Ministry of Construction for synthesis before July 15, 2025. For the Ministry of Finance, continue to complete procedures for the Prime Minister to issue a decision to complete the State Appraisal Council and the Advisory Council for selecting investment forms and investors according to regulations.

The North-South high-speed railway project was approved by the National Assembly in November 2024 with a total preliminary capital of about VND1.7 quadrillion (USD67 billion). The route is 1,541km long, 1,435mm double-gauge, designed at a speed of 350km/h, with 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations. In addition to public investment, the National Assembly has allowed the project to be implemented in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) or business investment. Previously, in mid-February 2025, the National Assembly also approved the investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project with a total capital of more than VND 203,000 billion (USD 8.37 billion). The main line is nearly 391km long, 1,435mm gauge, with some branch lines 27.9km long, passing through 9 provinces and cities. The design speed is from 80km/h to 160km/h depending on the section, serving the general transport of both passengers and goods. The project strives to be completed by 2030 at the latest.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/cac-sieu-du-an-duong-sat-chuan-bi-dieu-kien-de-chay-da-5053125.html