VIETNAM’s minister of construction, Tran Hong Minh, has directed government agencies to ensure that work can start before the end of this year on the 1541km North-South Railway, the country’s first high-speed line that will connect Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City.
Minh has identified land clearance as a crucial obstacle to meeting this timescale, and is calling for the property needed for the project to be made available early in accordance with legal requirements. He has also instructed agencies to coordinate utility relocation in advance, with the objective of preventing delays.
The Ministry of Construction has been directed to urgently complete proposals for special policy frameworks, investment models, and investor selection criteria for the project. Working with other stakeholders, it will also develop a detailed implementation schedule to meet the target of breaking ground on the high-speed line by the end of 2026.
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