Trương Việt Dũng, deputy chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee, speaks at the seventh session of the 17th-term Hà Nội People’s Council. — Photo cand.vn

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội expects to complete the construction of approximately 253.5km of urban railway within five years, with a maximum investment of no more than US$120 million per kilometre.

With the goal of finishing five urban railway lines by 2030, the capital city's authorities are considering special mechanisms for investment and technology transfer, while also setting requirements for strict cost control and proactive human resources arrangement.

On October 28, during the seventh session of the 17th-term Hà Nội People’s Council, delegates called for clarification of keeping in check investment costs, capital mobilisation plans, and solutions for training human resources to support the five urban railway lines realisation.

Reviewing the draft resolution, Trần Hợp Dũng, head of the Urban Affairs Division of the Hà Nội People’s Council, emphasised that this was an unprecedented matter, involving special mechanisms and policies as well as the use of a very large amount of budgetary resources.

Therefore, the division requested the Hà Nội People’s Committee to clarify the pilot scope of each mechanism and policy.

Regarding financial management, specific measures should be established to control resources, costs and capital use.

Mechanisms for guarantees, advances, recovery of advances and payment conditions should also be clarified.

On technology transfer, the reviewing body proposed clearly defining the list and scope of technologies to be transferred from the stage of technology and contractor selection.

It wants to stipulate the roadmap, rights and obligations of the parties concerned, as well as measures to address cases where technology-transfer obligations are not fulfilled or are only partially fulfilled.

Regarding the criteria for selecting strategic contractors, the handling plan, and risk-management measures, the Urban Affairs Division requested delegates to study the review report, continue discussions, and contribute opinions to improve the draft resolution.

An elevated section of the Nhổn–Hà Nội Station metro.— VNA/VNS Photo Trung Nguyên

At the discussion, delegate Trần Thị Thanh Tú analysed risks related to the capital structure, the ability to issue local government bonds, dependence on the central budget, and contingency capacity.

She requested that the city clarify its financial plan to ensure feasibility and safety during the implementation of projects on such a large scale.

Trương Việt Dũng, deputy chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee, emphasised that the urban railway projects were extremely large in scale, highly complex and unprecedented.

Under the plan currently being calculated, the total contract value is nearly VNĐ794 trillion ($31 billion).

The city has referred to projects using similar technologies, while calculating costs on the basis of integrated technology, trains, and the entire system.

Addressing difficulties in recruiting personnel for the management, operation, and maintenance of urban railways, Dũng said that the Hà Nội Metro One Member Co Ltd was assigned a staffing quota of 1,292 people and currently has 1,168 employees, of whom 1,068 are operating the existing urban railway lines.

The city is drawing on the experience of several countries to gradually develop an appropriate organisational and operational model.

According to Dũng, as many positions require lengthy training, city leaders instructed relevant bodies to study a roadmap for training officials and staff to serve the urban railway lines in the coming period.

As for financial plan, the city is calculating its capital structure. It will continue working with relevant agencies to clarify the possibility of central budget allocation, advance-payment arrangements in the coming years, and various financial scenarios.

Following the discussion, the session chair requested that the Hà Nội People’s Committee continue improving the documentation and provide complete financial reports and related materials, so that delegates have a basis for study and consideration before making a decision.

According to the chair, this is a resolution of very large scale and particularly significant importance, requiring determination and the engagement of the entire political system. — VNS