Creating about 90,000 jobs
On February 19, the National Assembly reviewed and approved the Resolution on investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project to implement the Party's policies and orientations, the Resolution and Conclusion of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo on investment in the construction of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway.
The project creates a premise for developing the railway industry and supporting industries; creating a construction market with a value of about 4.4 billion USD, estimated to create about 90,000 jobs during construction and about 2,500 long-term jobs during operation and exploitation; contributing to reducing traffic accidents, environmental pollution, responding to climate change and contributing to ensuring national defense and security.
The starting point of the project is at the rail connection location across the border (Lao Cai province), the end point is at Lach Huyen station (Hai Phong city); the main route length is about 390.9 km; the length of the branch routes is about 27.9 km; passing through 9 provinces and centrally-run cities including: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi Capital, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong.
The preliminary total investment of the Project is 203,231 billion VND; new investment in the entire single track, 1,435 mm gauge; general transportation of passengers and goods; design speed of 160 km/h for the main route from the new Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station, design speed of 120 km/h for the section passing through Hanoi city unit, design speed of 80 km/h for the remaining sections.
Two new specific mechanisms
Ms. Pham Thi Hong Yen - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Economic Committee - pointed out the special and specific points in the Resolution on the investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project.
Ms. Yen said that at the 8th Session, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 172/2024/QH15 approving the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project. This Resolution has 19 specific policies and mechanisms to implement project investment.
At this session, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on the investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project. In the Resolution, there are 18 specific mechanisms included in the draft Resolution.
According to Ms. Yen, basically, the policies set out in the Resolution on investment policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project are all based on the specific mechanisms and policies applied to allow the construction of a high-speed railway line on the North - South axis. However, there are some policies that National Assembly deputies, review agencies, and drafting committees have discussed and carefully included, with the aim of ensuring quick and smooth implementation and shortening the process.
The new policy compared to Resolution 172 is in Clause 15, Article 3, regulating cases where the preparation, appraisal and approval of projects has content other than the relevant planning, the project will be approved without having to carry out planning adjustment procedures.
"After the project is approved, the relevant plans must be promptly reviewed, adjusted, updated and announced. This helps the project implementation process to be quick," Ms. Yen explained.
According to the Standing Member of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, another special policy in the Resolution is in Clause 17, Article 3, allowing the application of the form of bidding for project packages.
The Law on Bidding stipulates that some cases are allowed to be conducted in the form of bidding appointments. With this project, the National Assembly agreed to ensure the project's progress. Allowing the organizing agency to exercise the right to use the bidding designation if necessary. "This is a preferential policy for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction project," Ms. Yen pointed out.
