A train in Việt Nam. The country's transport ministry has proposed establishing a steering committee for key railway projects. Photo kinhtedothi.vn

HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has just submitted a proposal to the Government on establishing a steering committee for key railway projects and nationally significant railway infrastructure projects.

The proposal states that to assist the Government in implementing key railway projects, the Prime Minister has already established the State Steering Committee for Key National Transport Infrastructure Projects and the Steering Committee for the Development and Implementation of the Investment Plan for the North-South High-Speed Railway and other key national railway projects.

He has also set up a task force to monitor the progress of urban railway projects in Hà Nội and HCM City, and a task force for implementing investment in railway routes connecting Việt Nam with China and Laos.

However, railway infrastructure investment projects are large scale, with very high investment costs and technical requirements, particularly concerning new technologies, workforce training and railway industry development.

These projects also require the implementation of multiple special policies and legal frameworks to ensure feasibility.

The MoT has therefore recommended reviewing existing organisations and establishing a unified Government-level steering committee to comprehensively oversee the railway sector.

This new steering committee would replace the previously established steering committees and task forces related to railway projects.

According to the proposal, the central Steering Committee will be led by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính as its head.

The vice heads will include Deputy PMs Trần Hồng Hà and Hồ Đức Phớc, along with the Minister of Planning and Investment and the Minister of Transport.

Committee members will be leaders of relevant ministries, sectors and local authorities.

The Steering Committee would be responsible for overseeing the implementation of key national railway projects, including the North-South high-speed railway project, railway lines connecting Lào Cai with Hà Nội and Hải Phòng, Hà Nội to Lạng Sơn and Móng Cái with Hạ Long (Quảng Ninh), as well as urban railway projects in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Additionally, the Steering Committee would propose solutions, mechanisms and policies to resolve obstacles, mobilise resources, accelerate project implementation and address cross-sectoral issues in the construction of railway projects. VNS