The Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho high-speed railway project is currently in the pre-feasibility study phase, expected to be divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for investment approval in 2025.
On February 28, the working delegation of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment led by Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the Committee, conducted a field survey at the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line and worked with the Can Tho City People's Committee to review the draft Law on Railways (amended).
Need special mechanism for railway construction
The working delegation of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment led by Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the Committee (third from right) inspected a point in the planning of the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway station.
At the meeting, Mr. Pham Van Dong, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport of Can Tho city, said that according to the Railway Network Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line is more than 175km long.
In Can Tho, the project is over 7km long, located in Phu Thu ward (Cai Rang district). Of which, the area of the station is over 60ha, arranged parallel to the North of the Western beltway of Can Tho city (from Vo Nguyen Giap street to IC4 intersection of National Highway 1), more than 2km from IC2 intersection of Can Tho - Ca Mau highway.
This location is convenient for connecting to the national highway system and main traffic axes of the city such as: Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway, national highways 1A, 91, 91B, Nam Song Hau, Can Tho city's western beltway....
The planned land fund for TOD development (urban development model oriented towards public transport development) covers an area of about 150 hectares in the area adjacent to the station to the North; 1,000 hectares in the area surrounding the station to the South.
Mr. Pham Van Dong, Deputy Director of Can Tho City Department of Transport spoke at the meeting.
According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Transport of Can Tho City, the project is large-scale, modern, and requires high technology and techniques. Meanwhile, the locality has no experience in management, investment, exploitation, and maintenance.
From there, the Deputy Director of the Department of Transport of Can Tho City proposed that the Ministry of Transport take the lead in proposing an investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway project. The People's Committee of Can Tho City will carry out the site clearance and resettlement work.
Regarding the Railway Law (amended), in Clause 5, Article 25, the revenue from exploiting land funds in the vicinity of regional railway stations, the provincial local government retains 50%, Can Tho proposed to amend, to retain 100%.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, proposed that the Ministry of Transport continue to preside over and prepare a pre-feasibility study report for the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway project to propose investment options, forms, and specific mechanisms and policies for the project.
Then, assign the provinces where the project passes to be the managing agencies for the project part in their area to implement investment and construction similar to the implementation of investment in the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway project.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee spoke.
Urgent investment in railway lines
Emphasizing at the working session, Mr. Tran Van Khai, a full-time National Assembly delegate and member of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, said that transportation in the Mekong Delta mainly relies on roads and waterways, which have not met the demand and have become the biggest bottleneck hindering regional development.
For this region to take off, investment in the railway line connecting Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City and the national network is urgent. Because the railway brings huge and obvious benefits, transporting large volumes, fast speed, and safety. The railway will open up new development space for the region.
Mr. Khai suggested that the locality supplement and clarify the specific mechanism for key projects passing through the area; make recommendations on the legal framework or support for the implementation of the 3 urban railway lines connecting the central station that the locality has planned. At the same time, clearly define the roles of the Central and local governments when the Ministry of Transport takes the lead in implementing the project or divides the project into component projects and assigns them to localities for implementation....
To enhance the role of localities in railway implementation, Mr. Khai recommended that Can Tho proactively coordinate with other provinces, establish a working group with the Ministry of Transport and provinces with the route passing through to unify the investment plan; continue to update and protect the planning, ensure the 60ha land fund of Can Tho station and the route corridor is not encroached.
The Mekong Delta needs a railway.
At the same time, prepare resources, plan budget for site clearance, resettlement and connecting infrastructure (roads to the station, bus stops) to be ready when the project starts. From there, develop connecting traffic, invest in shuttle bus routes from the station to the center, and public parking lots around the station.
In particular, improve management capacity, establish a railway department (under the Department of Transport) to learn experience in managing and operating urban and national railways.
According to Mr. Duong Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority (Ministry of Transport), the revised Railway Law focuses on 5 important, breakthrough innovations to create a legal corridor for railway development.
Mr. Duong Hong Anh, Deputy Director of Vietnam Railway Authority, Ministry of Transport, spoke at the meeting.
For the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho high-speed railway, currently in the pre-feasibility study report construction stage, it is expected to be divided into 2 phases.
Phase 1 is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval of investment policy in 2025. After being approved by the National Assembly, the project will start construction before 2030.
"At this time, we are applying the Railway Law (amended), which is very timely for implementing investment, construction, and operation of new railway projects," the Deputy Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority emphasized.
Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, suggested that Can Tho coordinate with the Ministry of Transport, directly the Vietnam Railway Authority, to organize a workshop to collect opinions from departments, branches, sectors and experts on the draft pre-feasibility study report of the high-speed railway project. Based on the synthesis of opinions, a report will be soon submitted to the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment.
Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, suggested that Can Tho soon complete and contribute comments on the draft Law on Railways (amended).
As for Can Tho city, the Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment suggested that it is necessary to be proactive and make efforts to implement tasks within the assigned scope, contributing to promoting the progress of the railway project.
Regarding the draft Law on Railways (amended), Mr. Ta Dinh Thi suggested that Can Tho continue to complete comments and submit a report to the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment before March 10 to synthesize and complete it to serve the process of reviewing the draft Law in the coming time.
The railway line connecting Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City has 13 stations. The project starts at An Binh Station (Binh Duong Province), passes through the provinces and cities of Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long and ends at Can Tho City (final station).
Total project investment is about 205,085 billion VND (about 8.57 billion USD).
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/du-kien-trinh-quoc-hoi-du-an-duong-sat-tphcm-can-tho-trong-nam-2025-192250228130534749.htm
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