According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, the North-South railway line through Ninh Binh province currently has many level crossings and self-open crossings, posing a potential risk to traffic safety.
Especially the sections passing through residential areas in Mai Son, Tam Diep, Ninh An communes, Truong Thi ward... Many paths are opened by people themselves, without barriers, watchmen or traffic lights.
Mr. Nguyen Cao Son - Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee - said that up to now, the province has completed the construction of a service road and fence system with a total length of 2,687m. At the same time, 271/499 self-opened paths were removed.
Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is focusing on directing the Ha Nam Construction Investment Project Management Board to speed up the implementation of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway project (implementation period from 2021 - 2025).
After the project is completed, an additional 5,173m of service road will be formed and 79 more self-opened walkways will be eliminated. However, during the implementation process, Ninh Binh province is facing some difficulties and problems.
According to Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Cao Son, the Central Government has not yet arranged funding for localities to implement in accordance with the roadmap in Decision No. 358/QD-TTg dated March 10, 2020 of the Prime Minister (total funding is 223.83 billion VND).
In addition, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) has not yet implemented investment in the construction of level crossings in Ninh Binh province according to Decision No. 1149/QD-BGTVT dated June 15, 2020.
In addition, due to some self-opened paths that have existed for a long time and the crowded roads to residential areas, it is difficult to organize the closure and removal of these paths. In particular, the investment and construction of a service road outside the railway traffic safety corridor is facing many difficulties due to the large cost of site clearance...
To continue to effectively implement Directive No. 22/CT-TTg dated August 18, 2025 of the Prime Minister on strengthening solutions to ensure railway traffic order and safety in the new situation.
The People's Committee of Ninh Binh province has issued a document requesting the Ministry of Construction to pay attention to allocating funding for the locality to build fences, access roads and eliminate self-opened paths in Ninh Binh province in accordance with the roadmap in Decision No. 358/QD-TTg dated March 10, 2020 of the Prime Minister.
At the same time, promptly deploy investment in the construction of level crossings in Ninh Binh province according to Decision No. 1149/QD-BGTVT dated June 15, 2020 of the Ministry of Transport.
Considering and allowing upgrading to level crossings for some long-standing self-opened paths, and roads to densely populated residential areas. Support Ninh Binh province in investing in the construction of some sections of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway line, including sections from Km56+752 - Km57+106; Km73+205 - Km73+837 and Km88+500 - Km90+710. At the same time, convert the internal level crossing at Km90+710 into a public level crossing.
"While waiting for the removal of level crossings and spontaneous crossings across the railway, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province has directed localities where the railway passes through to arrange personnel to guard self-opened crossings with a high risk of traffic accidents. At the same time, coordinate with the railway industry to organize professional training for security guards' personnel, fully equipping them with equipment to serve security guards according to regulations" - Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Cao Son said.
