Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the Cabinet meeting. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 28 stressed the need for the railway system to be upgraded in order to serve national development.
Speaking at a meetingof permanent Cabinet members, the leader said urban railways must be planned,firstly in Hanoi and HCM City, to address current traffic jams.
He suggesteddeveloping a railway system linking the Central Highlands and the centralregion and HCM City, and another between the southern metropolis and thesouthwestern region.
Highlighting theimportant role of the railway system, particularly the North-South expressrailway, PM Phuc said pre-feasibility assessments must be thoroughly preparedbefore submitting them to the Politburo and the National Assembly.
He assigned theMinistry of Transport to prepare these reports which, he said, should put into accounttechnologies and investment resources. The PM said the public-privatepartnership (PPP) model should be prioritised in this regard.
Land preparation isof significance, he said, suggesting connectivity with international railwaysso as to expand development space.
The leader taskedthe transport ministry with completing the Vietnam railway development strategyand plan by 2030 with a vision towards 2050, and proposing policies andsolutions to develop the railway system.
Regarding the CatLinh-Ha Dong urban railway project, PM Phuc asked ministries, agencies andHanoi authorities to raise their sense of cooperation and devote more time to addressingrelevant issues.
Safety is the toppriority, he emphasised, calling for efforts of experts and consultants in ensuringthe safety of the project.
The project shouldbe handed over only after the State Council for Pre-Acceptance Test forConstruction Works makes official decisions, he said.
Transport MinisterNguyen Van The reported at the meeting that from now to mid-November, about 10French consultants will come to Vietnam to assess the safety of the project.
All-out efforts arebeing made so that Hanoi’s first metro line would be put into commercial runahead of the 13th National Party Congress, slated for the firstquarter of 2021, the minister said.
The13.5-km-long railway line, from Cat Linh in Ba Dinh district to Ha Dongdistrict of Hanoi, has a total investment capital of approximately 886 millionUSD after several adjustments./.
VNA
