Nha Trang – Saigon railway upgrade project launched
A project to upgrade and renovate the railway route that connects Vietnam’s south-central coastal city of Nha Trang and its southern economic hub Ho Chi Minh City kicked off on Thursday, the last day of the seven-day Tet break (2023 Lunar New Year).
The launching ceremony for the project took place at the Thap Cham railway station in south-central Ninh Thuan Province with the attendance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and many other high-ranking central and local officials, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The Nha Trang – Saigon railway route is 411 kilometers long, starting from Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province and ending in Ho Chi Minh City after running through Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong Provinces.
The project, expected to be complete in 2025, is estimated to cost VND1,099 billion (US$46.7 million) from the medium-term budget capital source for 2021-25, according to the project management board.
It is aimed at improving the quality and size of the railway infrastructure, thereby increasing transport capacity, enhancing traffic safety, and facilitating the transport of passengers and cargo on the route that links six localities.
Under the project, all weak bridges on the route will be repaired and upgraded, the railway infrastructure will be renovated and modernized, and some terminals of passenger and goods will be reformed or consolidated, among other components including new constructions.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Chinh asked the Ministry of Transport to direct all the contractors, consultants, and supervisors to mobilize all possible resources and take necessary steps to ensure the project will be implemented efficiently, safely, and on schedule.
In addition, the project must comply with requirements on environmental protection during its implementation, the government leader said.
He asked all the ministries, agencies, and local authorities involved in the project to cooperate with each other effectively to make it a success.
Investment in public transport infrastructure in general and railway systems in particular is not only the duty of the transport ministry, but also the leading political task of local authorities of all related provinces and cities, the PM emphasized.
By Vinh Tho – Tuoi Tre News – January 27, 2023