Draft Law on Railways (amended): Removing 'bottlenecks', mobilizing economic sectors to participate in investing in railway infrastructure

(PLVN) - On the afternoon of May 27, at the National Assembly, authorized by the Prime Minister, presenting the draft Law on Railways (amended), Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said that the development of the Law on Railways (amended) aims to continue institutionalizing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on modern, synchronous, sustainable, focused and key railway development.

The draft Law overcomes existing institutional shortcomings and inadequacies, creates new momentum for the development of the railway industry, promotes the competitiveness of railway transport methods... focusing on 5 important and breakthrough innovations to create a legal corridor for railway development.

Regarding investment in developing railway infrastructure, the draft Law supplements regulations to maximize the mobilization of local resources, as well as other economic sectors to participate in investing in building railway infrastructure.

In particular, there are regulations on encouraging all organizations and individuals to participate in investing in developing railway infrastructure through many forms of contracts (BT, BOT, BTO, BLT, BTL...) and regulations on exploiting land funds in the vicinity of railway stations. The draft Law also stipulates that localities use their budgets to participate in compensation, resettlement support, investment in the construction of a number of national railway infrastructure items... To speed up the process of implementing investment and construction, contributing to improving the efficiency of investment in railway works, the draft Law adds regulations on the application of overall technical design (FEED design) instead of basic design in the Feasibility Study Report.

The draft Law supplements the regulation that, for urban railway routes included in the planning approved by competent authorities, the Provincial People's Committee is allowed to immediately decide to establish, appraise, and decide on project investment without having to carry out procedures for establishing, appraising, deciding on investment policies, and other procedures related to deciding on investment policies according to the provisions of law.

The Minister of Construction shared: "The addition of this regulation is one of the breakthrough solutions to remove the "bottleneck" in investment procedures for the urban railway system in localities. This regulation contributes to realizing Conclusion No. 49 of the Politburo on accelerating the investment process and completing the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2035".

Regarding the development of railway industry and human resources, the draft Law supplements the provisions that railway construction investment projects and railway industrial works with bidding packages organized for international bidding must have conditions binding foreign contractors to transfer technology and train human resources for Vietnamese partners to master the management, operation, exploitation, maintenance and gradually master the technology. Contractors and investors of railway construction investment projects and projects to purchase and build new locomotives and carriages must prioritize the use of products, goods and services that can be produced and supplied domestically in order to create conditions to attract maximum investment resources and develop the railway industry, thereby creating a large enough market to contribute to the development of supporting industries.

The Minister of Construction informed that this amendment has cut 4 administrative procedures; amended the implementing subjects of 10 administrative procedures to create more convenience and inherited 6 administrative procedures. The draft Law also strongly decentralizes power to local authorities in the investment and management of railway infrastructure operations. Some powers from the Government and the Prime Minister have been adjusted and assigned to the Minister of Construction and local authorities for implementation.

Presenting the review report, Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy said that the Committee agreed with the need to comprehensively amend the Railway Law. Commenting on specific contents, regarding investment in railway construction and exploitation of land funds in the vicinity of railway stations, some opinions agreed with the Government's proposal to stipulate mechanisms and policies to remove "bottlenecks" in investment procedures for urban railway systems in localities. Regarding the development of the railway industry and railway vehicles, the review agency proposed to study and supplement regulations on the development of supporting industries in the railway sector, helping the railway industry develop sustainably and meet requirements in the context of rapid technological development.

Gia Hong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/du-an-luat-duong-sat-sua-doi-go-nut-that-huy-dong-cac-thanh-phan-kinh-te-tham-gia-dau-tu-ket-cau-ha-tang-duong-sat-post549919.html