Proposal to use the railway corridor as a service road.

The Ministry of Transport has recently issued a document responding to a petition from voters in Quang Ngai province regarding the coordination mechanism between the railway sector and local authorities.

Previously, voters in Quang Ngai province petitioned: "According to regulations on the management and protection of railway infrastructure, households living in or near the railway corridor are restricted in some rights and needs, such as: They are not allowed to invest in lighting, domestic water supply (tap water), or access roads… because they conflict with railway regulations."

Therefore, voters suggest that all levels of government, ministries, and agencies should develop a coordination mechanism between the railway sector and local authorities at all levels to find solutions to this problem for the people."

The Ministry of Transport said it is proposing that the competent authorities review and amend the 2017 Railway Law, which includes a provision allowing the use of railway corridors for access roads, with the construction of separating fences (Illustrative image).

The Ministry of Transport stated that current railway laws fully regulate the management of land allocated for railways; the management and use of land designated for railways; regulations on level crossings and the issuance of permits for the construction of essential facilities within the railway land area; and the responsibility of the People's Committees of the provinces where railways pass through to ensure security, order, and safety in railway operations.

Furthermore, in 2013, the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province also established a coordination regulation to ensure traffic safety at intersections between roads and railways.

Regarding the proposal to invest in lighting and water supply systems within the land designated for railways, the Ministry of Transport stated that electricity, lighting, and water supply and drainage facilities are considered essential infrastructure projects and are permitted to be built within the railway land area, provided they do not affect railway infrastructure or railway safety. The procedures for granting construction permits for essential infrastructure projects are carried out according to the regulations in Circular No. 29/2023 of the Ministry of Transport.

According to the Ministry of Transport, in Decision No. 358/2020 approving the Project on Ensuring Order in Railway Safety Corridors and Resolving Unauthorized Crossings Over Railways, the Prime Minister assigned the task to the People's Committees of provinces and cities with railways passing through them to preside over the construction of access roads to eliminate unauthorized crossings over railways; the implementation roadmap is in the period 2021-2025.

Regarding the voters' proposal to build access roads within the railway safety corridor to serve the transportation needs of the people, the Ministry of Transport is studying and proposing to the competent authorities to consider amending it in the program for revising the 2017 Railway Law.

Specifically, the amendment is as follows: The current national railway safety corridor is permitted to be used for the construction of access roads with the aim of eliminating unauthorized crossings over the railway. When constructing access roads within the railway safety corridor, a fence must be built to separate the railway from the access road to ensure railway and road safety.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/kien-nghi-cho-phep-su-dung-hanh-lang-duong-sat-lam-duong-gom-192240401151052967.htm