Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested the Ministry of Construction to complete consultancy and survey plans for the North–South high-speed railway project by January 2026, ensuring compliance with established standards and transparent investment selection procedures.
He issued the directive while chairing a Government meeting in Hanoi on December 23 to discuss solutions to address difficulties facing the North–South high-speed railway project, the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway project, and urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for openness, transparency, and optimisation in selecting investment options, particularly for the North–South high-speed railway project.
He noted that the selection of technology for railway projects, especially high-speed rail, must be carefully assessed based on multiple factors, including economic efficiency, political and diplomatic considerations, national security and defence, technology transfer capability, and operational effectiveness.
Regarding the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway project, the PM directed that Component Project 1 be implemented strictly according to schedule, while efforts to accelerate the pre-feasibility study should be intensified, with completion targeted no later than March 2026.
He also called for the diversification of funding sources, including savings from development investment expenditure, increased state budget revenues, expenditure reductions, and the medium-term public investment plan.
For urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Prime Minister urged faster construction progress, particularly for underground sections, to ensure adherence to approved timelines. He assigned the Ministry of Finance to expedite procedures related to funding and relevant approvals, and called for the mobilisation of all available resources, including both state and private capital, to ensure synchronised investment in urban railway systems connected to major transport hubs.
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