Ready to start construction of resettlement area of Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project on August 19

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway is a strategic transport axis, connecting the key economic region of the North with the international market. If the land clearance is slow, the entire route will be slow. Therefore, the locality needs to continue to remove obstacles related to land and procedures for converting land use purposes; at the same time, closely coordinate with the Project Management Board to ensure progress.

In Phu Tho province, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh proposed studying on-site resettlement arrangements, creating conditions for people to stabilize their lives and develop the economy - Photo: Ta Hai

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has just conducted a field inspection of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project in Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh and Hanoi provinces. The working content focused on site clearance and resettlement area preparation, aiming to serve the goal of starting the project on August 19 and December 19.

Local authorities commit to handing over clean land

In Lao Cai, the working group surveyed many key locations, including the area planned to build the new Lao Cai station in Lao Cai ward, along with many locations that need to relocate factories, business headquarters and residential land of the people.

It is known that the railway section through Lao Cai is 143.2km long, requiring the acquisition of more than 1,550 hectares of land, affecting 2,581 households and the construction of 45 resettlement areas. The total estimated cost of site clearance is nearly VND8,200 billion.

Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Tran Huy Tuan committed to handing over 100% of the cleared land for the project in August, ready to start construction at the end of the year. The province also proposed that the investor quickly finalize the route and anticipate that about 20% more households will need to be resettled.

In Phu Tho, the railway line is 99.1km long, passing through 5 wards and 15 communes; it is necessary to recover more than 630 hectares of land, relocate about 1,813 households, build 38 resettlement areas and 5 cemeteries, with a total cost of land acquisition of about 12,363 billion VND.

Vice Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee Phan Trong Tan said: The province has established a Steering Committee for Land Acquisition and Site Clearance, assigning 2 Project Management Boards to be in charge of each area. Up to now, the province has determined the locations of resettlement areas, cemeteries, counted affected infrastructure works and established a comprehensive compensation plan.

Phu Tho proposed that the Ministry of Construction promptly hand over the design documents and field markers, especially the 48.5km route adjustment section. At the same time, the province proposed that the Government allocate VND800 billion in land acquisition capital in 2025 and study the viaduct option to reduce the area of land acquisition, limiting the impact on urban planning.

In Hanoi, the route is about 37.5km long, passing through 6 communes/wards with an area to be recovered of about 245ha. The total number of households to be resettled is 1,456, building 4 resettlement areas. The total estimated cost of site clearance is about 2,275 billion VND.

In Thuan An commune (formerly Gia Lam district), it is expected to locate Kim Son Technical Operation Station (Km278+800), bordering Bac Ninh, which plays an important role in operating and regulating trains, and is also the connection point with the Eastern Belt Railway and the 1,000mm gauge Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong line (existing line). This can be chosen as the starting point for the project.

Mr. Do Viet Hai, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction, said that Hanoi proposed to choose Yen Vien station as the starting point because this area has favorable ground conditions. In particular, the 9.5km long section from Yen Thuong station to Trung Mau station runs parallel to the road connecting Gia Binh airport. Hanoi has issued a resolution approving the organization of site clearance within a 120m cross-section, of which 23ha belongs to the main railway line.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh delivered a concluding speech at a working session on the progress of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project in Phu Tho province - Photo: Ta Hai

Ready to start construction of resettlement areas on August 19

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh highly appreciated the proactive spirit of the localities and emphasized: The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway is a strategic transport axis, connecting the key economic region of the North with the international market. The section through Lao Cai is the first link, playing the role of activating the entire logistics chain. If the land is slow, the entire route will be slow. Therefore, the localities need to continue to remove obstacles related to land and procedures for converting land use purposes; at the same time, closely coordinate with the Project Management Board to ensure progress.

At the same time, the Minister suggested that localities carefully calculate traffic needs, arrange standard roads with sidewalks; soon agree on the route connecting with China, and complete zoning plans to attract investment.

As for the section through Hanoi and Bac Ninh, the Minister acknowledged that this section is only over 40km long but passes through the inner city, densely populated area, making site clearance and implementation very complicated. Therefore, localities should focus on completing site clearance, starting construction of resettlement areas on August 19, and then starting construction of all stations and connecting roads on December 19.

The Railway Project Management Board and the consulting unit will complete all documents on station locations, connecting routes, and plans to relocate electrical works in August to serve the groundbreaking ceremony. At the same time, they will study the viaduct plan for the section through Hanoi - Bac Ninh to avoid intersections with roads and reduce impacts on residential areas.

"Regarding site clearance, compensation and resettlement, the Ministry of Construction will closely coordinate with localities to develop appropriate policies for each affected group. It can provide cash support, purchase of social housing or on-site resettlement. Policies need to be diverse, transparent and effective, so that people can proactively choose and feel secure in stabilizing their lives," said the Minister.

General route map of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway

Ensure project completion target in 2026

The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project (Project) was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 187/2025. Accordingly, the scope of the project has a starting point at the cross-border rail connection point (Lao Cai province), an end point at Lach Huyen station (Hai Phong city); the main line length is about 391km; the branch lines length is about 28km; passing through 6 provinces and centrally-run cities including: Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Hai Phong.

In terms of scale, the project invests in the construction of a new electrified railway line, single track, 1,435mm gauge; for general passenger and cargo transportation. The design speed is 160km/h for the main line from the new Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station, the design speed is 120km/h for the section through the Hanoi city hub area, the design speed is 80km/h for the remaining sections.

The total preliminary investment of the project is 203,231 billion VND (equivalent to 8.369 billion USD), in the form of public investment. Phase 1 invests in a single track, carrying out site clearance according to the scale of a double track; Phase 2 invests in a double track according to the plan (expected to be invested after 2050). Prepare a feasibility study report from 2025, striving to complete the project by 2030 at the latest.

The project is expected to have 9 component projects. Of which, component project 1 has a scale of infrastructure investment connecting stations on the line and the station square. Expected progress: September 2025, approve the feasibility study report; October 2025, approve the technical design; November 2025, complete the selection of the construction contractor and December 19, 2025, start the project.

There are expected to be 5 starting locations and all belong to component project 1, including: new Lao Cai station in Lao Cai ward; new Phu Tho station in Phong Chau ward, Phu Tho province; Kim Son technical operation station in Thuan An commune - Hanoi; Luong Tai station in Dai Dong province, Hung Yen province; Nam Hai Phong station in Kien Minh commune, Hai Phong.

At the same time, to ensure the ground for the project's commencement as well as the construction of the route, there are 6 component projects for compensation, support, and resettlement in 6 provinces the route passes through and a component project for Relocating power works with voltages of 110kV or higher.

The Prime Minister has directed to accelerate site clearance work, including starting compensation, support, and resettlement projects on August 19 and completing them in 2026.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/san-sang-khoi-cong-khu-tai-dinh-cu-thuoc-du-an-duong-sat-lao-cai-ha-noi-hai-phong-vao-19-8-102250722115210702.htm