This afternoon (10.2), the National Assembly Standing Committee commented on the investment policy of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.
Presenting the Government's report, the Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh said that the project has a starting point at the rail connection location across the border between Lao Cai Station and Ha Khau Bac Station (China), in the territory. Lao Cai City; The end point at Ben Thach Huyen area, located in Hai Phong City.
The main line length is about 390.9km and 3 branch routes about 27.9km; Going through 9 provinces and cities including: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong.
Preliminary total investment of about 203,231 billion dong (about 8,369 billion USD).
Regarding the investment scale, build a new 1,435mm gauge electrification railway line, transport passengers and goods together; the main route from Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station has a design speed of 160 km/h, the section passing through the Hanoi unit area has a design speed of 120 km/h, connecting sections and branch lines with a design speed of 80 km/h.
According to Minister Tran Hong Minh, the route is researched and selected to ensure the shortest, as straight as possible, using 3 main types of structures on the route (of which: the bridge structure accounts for about 29% of the length of the route, the tunnel is About 7% and about 64% of the ground) ensure consistent with the planning approved by competent authorities.
Besides, limiting passing through sensitive areas of natural, social and defense land; Limit the amount of site clearance ...
Regarding the station project, 18 stations are expected to be arranged (including 3 train stations, 15 mixed stations). In addition, to carry out technical operations for train runs, it is expected to arrange 13 technical work stations.
In terms of progress, according to the Government's recommendations, the project has been made a feasibility study report since 2025, striving to basically complete in 2030.
Reviewing this content, Chairman of the Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh said that regarding the scope, investment scale, technical standards, and design speed of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, the Economic Committee basically agreed with the Government's proposal.
On the direction of the route, the Economic Committee realized that the route of the project basically clung along the Noi Bai - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Hai Phong highway.
Therefore, to reduce the area of recovered, compensated and supported land, the Economic Committee recommends that in the steps of feasibility, the Government carefully review and select optimal route directions to minimize negative impacts.
Regarding the effectiveness of the project, the Economic Committee proposed to assess the overall effectiveness of railway projects that are expected to be invested in and carefully evaluate financial plans and impacts in the operation and exploitation of projects to minimize future risks.
Regarding capital, the Economic Committee said that the project has a very large scale and total investment. Proposal in the process of implementation and implementation should comply with the principle of ensuring macro balance and national debt safety.
Regarding the project implementation progress, the Economic Committee believes that the project is very large in scale, requiring high and complicated technical requirements and long periods of time, which pose risks as it has happened to many key projects in the past such as: The investment preparation work is not thorough, the estimates are not close to reality, the implementation plan is not feasible, leading to prolonged time and increasing the total investment of the project.
Therefore, the Economic Committee proposed to study carefully and have solutions to ensure that there is no similar situation to the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.
