Strategic infrastructure gradually emerges
Over the past time, the Government has continuously issued drastic directions to promote key railway projects.
The Government Office has issued documents conveying the directing opinions of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, requesting ministries, branches, and localities to implement the National Assembly's resolutions related to railway investment, including the North-South high-speed railway project and the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong route.
For the North-South route, functional agencies are assigned to accelerate the investment preparation phase, complete feasibility study reports, and ensure progress in parallel with quality. Requirements for technology selection, investment model, and strategic partners are also set to ensure feasibility and long-term efficiency.
In parallel, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line is oriented to develop in a modern, synchronous direction, linked to the international network, while ensuring the element of technological independence and self-reliance in the long term.
Notably, the Hanoi - Quang Ninh high-speed railway project has officially started construction, becoming the first inter-regional route to be implemented.
With a length of more than 120 km, a design speed of up to 350 km/h, this road when completed will shorten the travel time from Hanoi to Quang Ninh to only about 23 minutes.
Not only improving travel capacity, the project also creates a fast connecting axis between major economic centers such as Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, promoting trade, tourism and attracting investment.
In addition to developing the main route, functional agencies also promote urban development models in the direction of public transport (TOD), effectively exploiting land funds around the station, thereby creating more resources for infrastructure investment.
Expecting economic spillover
Not only meaningful for transportation, the high-speed railway is also seen as a driving force for economic growth.
Many people expressed their hope that these projects will help shorten the distance between regions, creating favorable conditions for travel, study and work.
As a resident near the Hanoi - Ha Long high-speed railway station project, Ms. Nguyen Tuyet Mai, a resident of Ha Long, Quang Ninh, happily said: "Hearing that the Hanoi - Quang Ninh high-speed railway line after completion will only take about 23 minutes to travel between the two localities, I really hope the project will be completed soon. Convenient travel will help people save time, open up many job opportunities, tourism and development.
Dr. Ta Dinh Hoa - lecturer at the Academy of Finance - said that in the context of globalization, speed is an important resource. The development of high-speed railways will become a key link in the logistics system, helping to reduce transportation costs and improve the competitiveness of the economy. At the same time, modern railway lines also contribute to restructuring development space and forming new economic corridors.
Reality shows that projects such as the Hanoi - Quang Ninh route not only shorten travel time but also open up opportunities to form closely linked urban, industrial and service chains.
This is also a premise for developing the domestic railway industry, from equipment production, technology transfer to training high-quality human resources.
However, to achieve breakthrough expectations, the implementation process needs to be strictly controlled from investment preparation, site clearance to technology selection. The problem of capital, technology and operating capacity also needs to be solved synchronously.
Along with the Government, the participation of businesses and great expectations from society, high-speed railway projects are facing the opportunity to become an important boost, contributing to upgrading transport infrastructure and promoting sustainable economic development in the coming years.
