The Ministry of Transport on Aug. 31 asked the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) to start conducting feasibility studies on two
portions of an express-railway linking Hanoi with Vinh City
(the capital of central Nghe An province) and HCM City-Nha Trang.
Nguyen Huu Bang, director general of the Vietnam Railway Corporation,
was expected to have an official meeting with JICA to discuss the issue
on Sept. 1.
In an interview with VnExpress, Nguyen
Minh Thuyet, vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee for
Culture, Education, Youth and Children, said the decision to start a
feasibility study for the Hanoi-HCM City express railway did not
contradict an earlier National Assembly decision to block the national
high-speed rail network. The plan's implementation will still face a
National Assembly vote prior to being enacted.
During discussions at the National Assembly's June session, a majority
of legislators rejected the rail plan due to the prohibitive costs
involved and perceived lack of social benefits.
The
project would cost about 56 billion USD. Japan has agreed to grant
Vietnam Official Development Assistance to undertake the feasibility
study.
According to Do Van Hat, director general of
the Railways Investment and Construction Consultancy Company, the study
would start sometime in November 2010. It is due for completion by the
end of the first quarter of 2012.
In addition, the
Vietnam Railway Corporation has asked JICA to help develop a feasibility
study for the construction of a 25km express railway from Ngoc Hoi
station (south of Hanoi ) to Noi Bai International Airport ,
Hat said./.