On March 10, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the draft Law on Railways (amended).
Examining the draft Law on Railways (amended), Mr. Le Quang Huy, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, suggested that it is necessary to continue reviewing and selectively refer to international experiences that are suitable to Vietnam's reality to ensure the feasibility of a number of regulations related to investment, management, and exploitation of railway infrastructure, preferential policies, and support for railway development, ensuring absolute security and safety for the railway system, especially the need for specific and synchronous solutions to resolve outstanding issues in the implementation of current railway projects, ensuring financial and human resources for the implementation of the provisions of the Law.
At the same time, Mr. Huy proposed to clarify the scope of the draft Law on urban railways, high-speed railways and specialized railways; railway business, and exploitation of land funds in the vicinity of railway stations.
Regarding the State's policy on railway development (Article 5) and incentives and support in railway operations (Article 6), Mr. Huy suggested clarifying the concretization of policies stipulated in these Articles in the draft Law or other relevant laws. Regarding incentives and support in railway operations (Article 6), it is recommended that there should be a specific impact assessment to ensure feasibility and fairness in the application of incentive policies.
Regarding the management and use of land for railways (Article 13), it is proposed that the regulations refer to land for railways to be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Land Law. In case it is deemed necessary to amend or supplement it appropriately, it is proposed to review relevant regulations and carefully assess the impact to ensure the consistency of the legal system, avoid obstacles in the implementation process as well as negative impacts.
Regarding investment in railway construction (Article 20), the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment proposed to clarify the coordination mechanism between management agencies, review and evaluate carefully, ensure feasible regulations, especially when implementing large projects, especially inter-regional railway projects or using new technologies; clarify cases where it is not public investment, investment in the form of PPP will be implemented as such. At the same time, there needs to be a mechanism for inspection and supervision throughout from the national to local levels to ensure consistency and efficiency in investment projects.
Regarding the development of railway industry and railway vehicles (Chapter III, from Article 28 to Article 35), it is proposed to study and supplement principles such as: encouraging localization and development of domestic industry, promoting the connection between railway industry and supporting industries; technological innovation and technology transfer to improve production and operation efficiency and enhance competitiveness; safety, efficiency and environmental protection in all stages from production, assembly, maintenance to operation of railway vehicles; synchronizing training plans, developing human resources participating in research and activities in the railway sector, moving towards technological autonomy.
According to the assessment of the Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee of the National Assembly Hoang Thanh Tung, compared to the current Law, the draft Law on Railways (amended) is more general in terms of railway development, reducing the chapter on high-speed railways. In particular, there are no specific characteristics or types of high-speed railways and rapid development of urban railways.
Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested that this amendment to the Law must decentralize more power to localities in railway management. The draft Law must ensure consistency with the current legal system, especially the Land Law, Planning Law, and Public Investment Law, avoid duplication and contradiction, and not legalize Decrees, special mechanisms, and Circulars into the Law.
The National Assembly Chairman also suggested that the Law must closely follow Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW, dated November 17, 2022, of the 6th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to promote industrialization and modernization of the country by 2030, with a vision to 2045. It must adhere to the Central Committee's resolution, without omitting any details prescribed by the Party.
The National Assembly Chairman noted that we need to summarize the 7 years of implementing the Railway Law to see why, despite the Law, Vietnam's railways have been slow to develop. What is the reason? Is it due to lack of proper attention, lack of funding for investment, or because the transport sector only focuses on roads and aviation, and not much attention is paid to railways and waterways. While other countries develop waterway transport systems, we have seas and rivers, but waterway transport receives little attention.
The National Assembly Chairman stated that the Reunification Train was built after the liberation and reunification of the country. Now, 50 years after the reunification of the country, has there been any change to the Reunification Train, or has it only changed the rooms and facilities, while the speed of the train remains the same as 50 years ago?
Besides, how can the Law have a strong breakthrough policy for the railway to develop instead of the Law needing many articles and chapters, how can the country develop high-speed railways, and urban railways, the Law needs a separate chapter with priority mechanisms on resources, technology, application of digital technology, artificial intelligence, and improving domestic capacity.
Source: https://daidoanket.vn/chu-tich-quoc-hoi-can-chinh-sach-dot-pha-de-nganh-duong-sat-vuon-len-10301262.html
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