NDO - According to Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, the North-South high-speed railway project has been studied for a long time, about 18 years. The dossier was directed by the Government to be reviewed, carefully calculated, and carefully consulted with the experience of countries around the world to complete it. The results of forecasting transportation demand and national potential show that 2027 is the right time to invest.
Continuing the working program of the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly, after listening to the discussion of the National Assembly deputies, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang explained and clarified the opinions.
The project has been studied very carefully and thoroughly. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang said that the project has been studied for a long time, about 18 years. The dossier was directed by the Government to be reviewed and carefully calculated based on the experience of countries around the world to complete. The results of the forecast of transportation demand and national potential show that 2027 is the right time for investment. In addition, the Politburo also thoroughly discussed the investment policy, factors and conditions for project implementation. Explaining the project's suitability with strategies, planning, and plans, the Minister said that the pre-feasibility study report presented the suitability of strategies, socio-economic development plans, railway network planning, and related provincial planning. The planning of the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has not been approved yet, but the route plan has been integrated into the planning by both cities.
 |
| Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang. (Photo: DUY LINH) |
In addition, the Government has directed that it is necessary to consider adjusting the land use planning, including updating the expected demand for the North-South high-speed railway project to be about 10,827 hectares. Localities have updated the route, works on the route, and land demand for the project. Clarifying opinions related to the scope of the project and route, the Minister of Transport said that the project will start at Ngoc Hoi station (Hanoi) and end at Thu Thiem (Ho Chi Minh City). Particularly, the sections from Hanoi - Lang Son and Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho will have two separate projects, which are being vigorously implemented, according to standard gauges. The Hanoi - Lang Son project is expected to borrow capital from China; while the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho project has conducted a pre-feasibility study and arranged capital sources.
The shortest option has been chosen. Regarding the station route, the Minister of Transport said that the drafting agency has chosen the shortest possible and relatively suitable option, and the submitting agency will continue to study the opinions of the delegates.
 |
| Scene of the working session on the afternoon of November 20. (Photo: DUY LINH) |
Regarding the project design solution, the Minister shared that 30% of the ground structure is used in locations where it is not possible to build bridges or tunnels because the principle of high-speed railways is 100% above ground, only when entering the station will they go down. Regarding standards, the Minister informed that the pre-feasibility study report did not specify the standards immediately to avoid imposing technology in the next steps. Only at the overall technical design (FEED) step will the technical standards for the project be specifically determined. Regarding the form of investment, through international research, 27 railway investment projects under the PPP form are not feasible, some countries invested under the PPP form but were unsuccessful, had to nationalize or increase the level of State support to a very high level. Some projects have applied PPP but mainly in commercial areas, central stations or some effective routes, therefore, to successfully implement a project of national strategic importance, the Government proposes to implement the project under the public investment form.
The maximum payback period is 33.61 years . Regarding economic and financial efficiency, Minister Nguyen Van Thang said that the project is estimated to bring 7 huge socio-economic benefits. However, in the first 4 years of operation, the revenue is only enough to cover operating costs, while the cost of infrastructure maintenance, the State must partially support from the career capital source. The maximum payback period is 33.61 years. Regarding opinions on capital sources and the ability to balance capital, it is expected that the state budget capital will be arranged in the medium-term public investment plans to invest in the project to be completed in 2035, arranged over 12 years, with an average of 5.6 billion USD per year. "Currently, we plan to borrow a maximum of 30% but have not decided whether to borrow domestically or from ODA capital, but it depends on the efficiency," Mr. Thang emphasized. Regarding implementation organization, for large projects, there will be two stages that require hiring foreign consultants: project management consultants and supervision consultants. These are the two parts that decide whether the project is on schedule or not, these are the crucial factors that need attention. Regarding the special mechanism, Minister Nguyen Van Thang said that to implement such a large and unprecedented project, a special mechanism is needed to implement the project, shortening the time. In addition, the head of the transport sector also emphasized the need to pay attention and be careful in the preparation stage because this is an extremely important period, otherwise there will be many consequences like the recent time.
Nhandan.vn
Source: https://nhandan.vn/du-an-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-da-duoc-nghien-cuu-rat-ky-luong-can-trong-post845987.html
Comment (0)