Continuing the 42nd session, on the afternoon of February 10, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the investment policy of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project (Project).
Building a new, modern and synchronous railway line
According to the Government's proposal, the investment objective of the Project is to build a new, modern, synchronous railway line to meet the domestic and international transport needs between Vietnam and China; create an important driving force for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, promote advantages on the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor, ensure effective connection of the domestic and international railway network, associated with ensuring national defense, security and international integration, environmental protection, response to climate change; promote the industrialization and modernization of the country.
The Government proposed the National Assembly to decide on the investment policy of the Project with the starting point at the cross-border rail connection between the new Lao Cai station and Ha Khau Bac station (China); the end point at Lach Huyen wharf area. The main line is about 390.9 km long and 3 branch lines are about 27.9 km long.
Project implementation locations in 9 provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong.
Investment scale: construction of a new electrified railway line, single track, 1,435 mm gauge, for general passenger and freight transport; main route section with design speed of 160 km/h; section through Hanoi hub area with design speed of 120 km/h; connecting routes and branch routes with design speed of 80 km/h.
Preliminary land use demand is about 2,632 hectares. Investment form: public investment. Preliminary total investment: about 203,231 billion VND (8.369 billion USD).
Capital sources: state budget (central, local); domestic capital, foreign capital (borrowed from the Chinese Government) and other legal capital sources.
Implementation progress: prepare feasibility study report from 2025, strive to basically complete the Project by 2030.
Carefully consider your policy on exclusion, waiver or mitigation of liability.
Presenting the appraisal report, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh said that the Committee agreed on the necessity of investing in the Project; requested the Government to clarify the Project's conformity with the National Land Use Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and the allocation and zoning of land for the Project in the provincial planning of the localities where the Project passes through.
Regarding station and technical operation stations: The Government proposes to arrange 18 stations (3 train stations, 15 mixed stations) along the entire route to perform technical operations serving train operations, and arrange 13 technical operation stations.
Some opinions suggested researching, reviewing, and expanding the scale of stations (Lao Cai station, Bao Thang station), and arranging stations in accordance with local planning (Yen Vien station) to meet local development needs.
The Economic Committee believes that the Project has a very large scale and total investment. In the medium-term period of 2021-2025, the capital demand for the Project of about 128 billion VND has been balanced by the Government in the medium-term public investment plan.
In the 2026-2030 period, capital demand is about VND 177,282 billion and in the 2031-2035 period, capital demand is about VND 25,821 billion.
The Government proposes to use domestic capital, foreign capital and other legal capital sources for the Project, and proposes a number of specific and special mechanisms and policies such as not appraising the ability to balance capital according to the provisions of the Law on Public Investment; during the implementation of the Project, allowing the Prime Minister to decide to issue Government bonds, mobilize official development assistance (ODA) capital, foreign preferential loans, use increased revenue sources, save annual central budget expenditures (if any) and other legal capital sources to ensure the suitability and feasibility of the Project.
These specific and special mechanisms and policies have been allowed to be applied by the National Assembly in the past and have been reviewed and commented on by competent authorities, so the Government's recommendations are well-founded.
However, the auditing agency recommends that during the implementation process, it is necessary to comply with the principles of ensuring macroeconomic balances and national public debt safety.
Regarding specific mechanisms and policies for implementing investment in the Project, based on reviewing specific policies for the North-South high-speed railway project and the characteristics of the Project, the Government proposed to allow the application of 15 policies in Resolution No. 172/2024/QH15, so the Economic Committee basically agreed with these mechanisms and policies.
Regarding Policy 19 on excluding, exempting or reducing responsibility for heads of agencies, units, cadres, civil servants and public employees participating in and implementing the Project: The Economic Committee believes that the Project has been reviewed and commented on by competent authorities. With the urgent progress of the Project, investment preparation may encounter shortcomings.
However, the provision that "Heads of agencies, units, cadres, civil servants and public employees participating in the development and promulgation of mechanisms and policies to promote the progress of project implementation shall be considered for exclusion, exemption or reduction of responsibility if negative acts, impacts, group interests or waste occur during the project implementation" is unclear in terms of scope, extent, form and process that can be applied and may create a precedent, unfairness and inconsistency with other projects.
In addition, the Government has also had a policy to encourage and protect dynamic, creative cadres who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good (Decree No. 73/2023/ND-CP dated September 29, 2023 of the Government), so it is recommended to carefully consider this policy and report to competent authorities for consideration and decision.
Through discussion, the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and decision on the investment policy of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong Railway Project at the 9th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly, to implement the policies and resolutions of the Party and State, creating a breakthrough in the development of transport infrastructure, meeting transportation needs.
Basically agreeing with the need to consider and decide on the investment policy for the construction of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated: The Party Central Committee and the Politburo have issued resolutions and conclusions, emphasizing the need to prioritize resources to strive to complete procedures and start investment in the Project in 2025.
The project will contribute to completing the railway network, connecting large urban areas and industrial zones in the midlands, northern mountainous region, and the Red River Delta.
Regarding the route, the National Assembly Chairman noted that there must be an optimal plan to ensure the connection of the Project with the national railway network, urban railway, other types of transport, minimizing the passage through residential areas and forest land funds; surveying and carefully studying land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement.
Regarding the station project, the National Assembly Chairman suggested calculating suitable train speeds, ensuring the principle of concentrating goods and passengers to save investment costs, and having solutions to connect the station project with regional infrastructure...
Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee requested the Government to continue to complete the Project dossier; in which, paying attention to a number of issues such as reviewing and calculating the total investment, preliminary design plan, project route and connection with the railway network, other transport systems, ensuring savings and efficiency; carefully assessing factors affecting the progress of project implementation...
VN (according to VNA)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/trinh-quoc-hoi-xem-xet-chu-truong-dau-tu-du-an-duong-sat-qua-hai-duong-tai-ky-hop-bat-thuong-lan-thu-9-404949.html
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