Consider piloting some specific mechanisms for developing urban railway networks

Kinhtedothi - On the morning of February 10th, the National Assembly's Economic Committee held an expanded plenary session on the National Assembly's Resolution on piloting a number of specific and special mechanisms and policies to develop the urban railway network system in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

This is an important resolution aimed at mobilizing all legitimate resources, minimizing implementation time, and effectively utilizing land resources. At the same time, it strongly decentralizes power and authority to the two cities to realize the Resolutions and Conclusions of the Central Committee and the Politburo .

According to the Chairman of the Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, the issuance of specific mechanisms and policies to develop the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has a solid political, legal, and practical basis. This is a very necessary and urgent issue, aimed at resolving institutional bottlenecks and contributing to the goal of completing the urban railway network in the two cities.

The scene at the meeting. Photo: Quochoi.vn

According to the Government's submission on the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on some specific and special mechanisms and policies for the development of urban railway networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the purpose of drafting the National Assembly Resolution is to mobilize all legal resources, minimize the procedures, investment preparation time, implementation progress, and human resource training for the investment in urban railway systems; and effectively utilize land resources.

The National Assembly's resolution also aims to strongly decentralize and delegate authority to the two cities in implementing investments in accordance with their actual situation, characteristics, and development requirements, promoting the initiative and proactiveness of the two cities, and ensuring investment efficiency.

According to the Government's submission, the draft Resolution standardizes six groups of specific mechanisms and policies, including: Capital mobilization; Procedures for investment implementation; Urban development according to the TOD model; Development of the railway industry, technology transfer and human resource training; Construction materials and waste disposal policies; and Regulations applicable specifically to Ho Chi Minh City.

Specifically, regarding the policy on capital mobilization, it is stipulated that: During the investment preparation process, the Prime Minister has the right to decide on the balance and allocation of annual central government budget funds, up to a maximum of VND 215,350 billion for Hanoi and VND 209,500 billion for Ho Chi Minh City. Simultaneously, it allows for the mobilization of ODA and preferential loans without requiring a project proposal; the City People's Council is responsible for allocating medium-term public investment plans; and the City People's Committee is authorized to allocate funds to implement certain preparatory work for the project.

Regarding the policy group on investment implementation procedures, it is also proposed that urban railway projects do not require the preparation, appraisal, or decision on investment policies, and that consulting, non-consulting, construction, and investor contracts be awarded through direct negotiation.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, presided over the meeting. Photo: Quochoi.vn

At the meeting, the majority of delegates supported and argued that it is necessary to apply specific policies in the National Assembly's resolution for investment in the urban railway network, as this is the "backbone" of the public transport system of the two cities. They also requested the Government to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of policies on urban development according to the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) model.

Some opinions suggested that competitive bidding should be encouraged instead of applying the direct contracting policy to suit the current situation. In addition, delegates argued that it is necessary to assess the priority allocation of resources, including: the central budget, increased revenue and expenditure savings, ODA funds, etc., to avoid overlapping regulations. They also proposed not to impose rigid financial regulations or funding sources, but only to specify priority resources.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan delivers a speech. Photo: Quochoi.vn

At the same time, ensure the development of interconnected urban railway networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to maximize the effectiveness of investment projects; establish mechanisms and policies to support compensation and resettlement, and develop organizational structures for implementation… to ensure that projects do not exceed budgets or extend implementation times.

Concluding the session, the Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, stated that the Economic Committee will coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and the Review Council to incorporate further feedback from the National Assembly Standing Committee on this matter in order to finalize the official review report before submitting it to the National Assembly.

It is expected that, after the National Assembly considers and issues the Resolution, the Government and the People's Councils of the two cities will issue legal documents to provide guidance within their respective authorities.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/xem-xet-thi-diem-mot-so-co-che-dac-thu-phat-trien-mang-luoi-duong-sat-do-thi.html