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| Đà Lạt Railway Station. VNS File Photo |
Viet Nam News
HCM CITY – The Ministry of Transport has asked the central Government’s approval for privatisation of investments for restoration of infrastructure for the Đà Lạt – Trại Mát Railroad.
Khương Thế Duy of the Ministry of Transport asked permission from the Prime Minister to seek private investments for the railroad in Lâm Đồng Province under the BOOT (Build–Own-Operate–Transfer) form.
The railway section is part of the 84-km Tháp Chàm – Đà Lạt Railway, which was suspended in 1968 during wartime.
In 1991, the 6.7-km section of the railway, which runs from Đà Lạt to Trại Mát, was restored to serve the tourism industry. This stretch has been operating independently and is not connected with any railway network in the region.
Duy said the state had earned VNĐ196 million (US$87,210) in operating fees from the railway section, while spending VNĐ2.4 billion for management and maintenance services per year.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport said that private investment was necessary to maintain the railway and to contribute to tourism development in Đà Lạt.
Such funds would also help the state cut management costs and earn more money from the operation of Đà Lạt Railway Station.
The proposed BOOT project has total investment of VNĐ79.2 billion (US$3.5 million). The investor will be refunded in 25 years through train tickets and operation of facilities at the two railway stations on the railroad.
If the proposal is approved by the Prime Minister, the Việt Nam Railway Authority will complete procedures so that a tender to select the investor would be held by the end of the year, according to Duy.
The Transport Ministry spokesman said that the proposal was supported by several agencies, authorities and Lâm Đồng Province People’s Committee.VNS
