Submit to the National Assembly the investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi railway project

Kinhtedothi - On the afternoon of February 13, continuing the 9th Extraordinary Session, the National Assembly listened to the Presentation and Verification Report on the investment policy of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai chaired the meeting. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Building a new modern railway line

Presenting the Proposal on the investment policy of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh said that the goal of the Project is to build a new, modern and synchronous railway line to meet the domestic and international transport needs between Vietnam and China.

At the same time, it creates an important driving force for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, promotes advantages on the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor, ensures effective connection of domestic and international railway networks, associated with ensuring national defense, security and international integration, environmental protection, response to climate change; promotes the process of industrialization and modernization of the country.

Regarding the investment scope, the starting point is at the rail connection point across the border between the new Lao Cai station and Ha Khau Bac station (China); the end point is at Lach Huyen wharf area, passing through 9 provinces and cities; the main line length is about 390.9 km and 03 branch lines are about 27.9 km.

Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh presents the Report. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Regarding the scale of investment, a new electrified railway line with a gauge of 1,435 mm will be built to transport both passengers and goods; the main line from Lao Cai Moi station to Nam Hai Phong station will have a design speed of 160 km/h, the section through the Hanoi hub area will have a design speed of 120 km/h, and the connecting sections and branch lines will have a design speed of 80 km/h. Clearing the land for the main line section will be on a double-track scale, and the immediate investment phase will be on a single-track scale.

The project uses centralized power train technology for passenger and freight trains; the information and signaling system is equivalent to the system currently in use on some railway lines transporting passengers and freight in the region.

"The preliminary total land use demand is about 2,632 hectares, the resettled population is about 19,136 people. The proposed investment form of the Project is public investment. The preliminary total investment is about 203,231 billion VND (about 8.369 billion USD)" - Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh informed.

The 9th extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: Quochoi.vn

Select the optimal route option

Presenting the appraisal report, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh said that the Economic Committee agreed on the necessity of investing in the Project with the political and legal bases and practical reasons stated in Submission No. 69/TTr-CP. However, it is requested to clarify the Project's conformity with the National Land Use Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the allocation and zoning of land for the Project in the provincial planning of the locality where the Project passes.

Regarding the scope, scale of investment, technical standards, and design speed, the Economic Committee basically agrees with the Government's proposal. There are opinions suggesting further clarification of technology transfer, operation, and exploitation of the Project after completion to avoid dependence on technology and to build the Project to meet dual-use, defense, and security requirements.

Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh presents the Inspection Report. Photo: Quochoi.vn

The Economic Committee believes that the route of the Project basically follows the Noi Bai - Lao Cai and Hanoi - Hai Phong expressways, to reduce the area of ​​land recovered, compensated, supported, resettled and limit the land between the railway and the expressway, it is recommended that in the feasibility study step, the Government direct relevant agencies to carefully review and select the optimal route option to ensure the connection of the Project with the national railway network, urban railway, other transport systems and minimize the negative impacts of land recovery for the Project on businesses and people.

Along with that, there are opinions that the Railway Law stipulates that railway stations are places for railway vehicles to stop, avoid, overtake, pick up and drop off passengers, load and unload goods, perform technical operations and other services. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the difference between the concepts of stations and operating stations as well as the necessity and principles of arranging these operating stations. Some opinions suggest studying, reviewing, and expanding the scale of stations (Lao Cai station, Bao Thang station), arranging stations in accordance with local planning (Yen Vien station) to meet local development needs.

Regarding the investment plan, the Government proposed to divide the investment phase of the Project according to the scale of single track and land acquisition, compensation, support, resettlement according to the scale of double track planning and will complete the investment in the next phase. The Economic Committee believes that, in the condition of limited resources, the transportation demand of this route is not high and the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor already has an existing expressway and railway (1,000 mm gauge) operating together, the proposal to invest in dividing the Project is appropriate and the investment in completion will be studied when needed.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/trinh-quoc-hoi-chu-truong-dau-tu-du-an-tuyen-duong-sat-lao-cai-ha-noi-hai-phong.html