Creating conditions to complete the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2035

The review agency stated that the draft Law on Railways (amended) will help mobilize maximum resources for investment in railway infrastructure, remove bottlenecks in urban railway investment, and help realize the goal of completing the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2035.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presented the draft Law on Railways (amended) on the afternoon of May 27. Photo: VIET CHUNG

Continuing the agenda of the 9th session, on the afternoon of May 27, the National Assembly listened to the presentation and the report on the review of the draft Law on Railways (amended). Presenting the Government's presentation, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said that the draft Law on Railways (amended) supplements many provisions to maximize the mobilization of local resources and other economic sectors to participate in investing in the construction of 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...). At the same time, additional regulations are added that localities can use their budgets to participate in compensation, resettlement support, and investment in the construction of some items of national railway infrastructure.

The draft also amends and supplements regulations clearly defining the responsibilities of entities in investing in the construction of national railways, local railways, specialized railways and technical infrastructure works connecting to railways, national railways shared with local railways, and railways shared with roads.

To shorten and simplify the investment implementation procedures, the draft law has added regulations on: applying the overall technical design (FEED design) instead of the basic design in the feasibility study report; Provincial People's Committees are allowed to immediately decide to prepare, appraise and decide on investment in urban railway projects without having to carry out procedures on investment policies.

In the review report, Chairman of the Committee for Science , Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy said that many opinions agreed with the regulations on investment in railway construction and exploitation of land funds in the vicinity of railway stations as presented by the Government.

Mr. Le Quang Huy commented that the regulations on mechanisms and policies to remove bottlenecks in investment procedures for the urban railway system in localities as drafted will contribute to realizing Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW of the Politburo on accelerating the investment process and completing the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2035.

View of Dien Hong hall. Photo: VIET CHUNG

The Committee on Science, Technology and Environment also proposed reviewing and clarifying regulations on specific technical standards for each type of railway as well as the connection between these types in the national railway transport system.

Regarding railway connections, the review agency proposed to clarify and study and supplement a number of regulations on the mechanism for synchronous and effective connection between railways and other modes of transport; capacity criteria of ports, especially dry ports and airports; and the decision on rail connections between specialized railway lines.

In particular, the draft Law on Railways (amended) has strongly decentralized power to local authorities in the investment and management of railway infrastructure operations; adjusting some authority from the Government and the Prime Minister to the Minister of Construction and local authorities for implementation.

Specifically, the draft decentralizes authority to local authorities to carry out administrative procedures on: approving the policy of building level crossings; granting and extending level crossing construction permits for local railways and specialized railways; granting certificates of registration of railway vehicles; and granting train driving licenses on specialized railways and local railways.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tao-dieu-kien-hoan-chinh-mang-luoi-duong-sat-do-thi-tai-ha-noi-va-tphcm-nam-2035-post797025.html