As part of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway plan, Vinh Phuc province has mobilized its entire political system to ensure the project’s timely and effective implementation.
Immediately after the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 187 on investment in Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee held numerous meetings and conducted field inspections into proposed routes in the province.
The Provincial People's Committee established a site clearance board for the project and assigned responsibility to related agencies and local authorities involved in site clearance for the section of the project passing through Vinh Phuc. Relevant agencies have swiftly coordinated efforts, reviewed and identified affected areas, and prepared necessary conditions for land clearance and resettlement for the project.
According to the pre-feasibility study report, the section passing through Vinh Phuc will require acquiring approximately 211 ha of land. An estimated 569 households with 2,276 residents will be affected. The total estimated cost, which the province prepared from its budget for land compensation, support and resettlement, is nearly VND5,800 billion.
However, the section of the railway line passing through Vinh Phuc Province has the greatest curvature along the entire route, making it difficult for trains to achieve the maximum designed speed of 160 kmph during operation. Therefore, the Department of Construction in collaboration with the Railway Project Management Board under the Ministry of Construction hosted a meeting with the project consultant and other relevant agencies to study and reach a consensus on a proposed adjustment to the route alignment, shifting it from the northern side (running along the existing Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway) to the southern side. The proposed realignment has now been approved by the Appraisal Council under the Ministry of Construction.
As a result, the adjusted national railway route will connect to Vinh Phuc through a main station located in the center of Vinh Yen City. Notably, this will establish a key transit hub linked with Sau Vo Lake New Urban Area when it handles passenger flows from China to Hai Phong, Vietnam, thus expanding the development space for the province.
Moreover, the adjusted alignment will reduce the route by approximately 39.5 km and slash construction costs by some VND2,893 billion. Land clearance costs are also expected to decrease to VND3,728 billion.
Reporting at the second online meeting of the Steering Committee for important national railway projects, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee Vu Viet Van proposed that the Ministry of Construction soon complete the adjusted railway alignment plan and the land acquisition boundary for the section passing through Vinh Phuc.
He also requested a technical study for the section running through the center of Vinh Yen City, Phuc Yen City, Binh Xuyen District, and other densely populated residential zones. At the same time, he called for guidance on how to resolve conflicts between the newly proposed route and ongoing development projects in the province. He also proposed that the railway be aligned within the 100-meter red-line boundary of National Highway 2, including the bypass section in Vinh Yen City.
Anticipating the huge workload to be done, the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee issued Document No. 3512 on focused leadership, direction and implementation of land compensation and site clearance for the project. Particularly, the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee directed the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee to lead and instruct its members, relevant professional agencies and localities to actively coordinate with the project investor in the course of project implementation. This must be done urgently and methodically while the schedule and quality of the project is ensured.
Vinh Phuc prioritizes tasks for the project, especially route alignment, planning, land-use, land acquisition, repurposing, pricing, and resettlement site selection. The province is committed to quickly addressing obstacles, reporting issues beyond its authority, and aims to complete site clearance by September 2025, with construction starting the same year as directed by the Prime Minister.
By Hien Van, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
