Ministry of Transport responds to voters' opinions in Nghe An

(Baonghean) - Before the 3rd Session of the 13th National Assembly, voters of Nghe An province requested the Ministry of Transport to soon have a strategy to modernize and improve the passenger and cargo transport capacity of Vietnam Railways to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization and increasingly better meet the travel needs of the people.

The Ministry of Transport has the following opinion on this issue:

Vietnam Railways is an economic sector with a long history of development and plays an important role in the national economy. Through many historical periods, the Railway sector has made many contributions to the cause of building and defending the country. The Party, the Government and the Ministry of Transport always pay attention to the development of the Railway sector so that the railway can play a key role in mass transport, serving the travel needs of the people and contributing positively to the economic development of the country.

The National Assembly issued the Railway Law, effective from June 14, 2005. The Railway Law institutionalized the Party's policies and guidelines, the State's goals and policies to regulate railway operations, creating the premise for modernizing and improving the passenger and cargo transport capacity of railway transport.

- Resolution No. 13-NQ/T.Ư dated January 16, 2012 of the 4th Conference of the 11th Central Executive Committee on building a synchronous infrastructure system to turn our country into a modern industrialized country by 2020 has oriented the strategy for developing the railway infrastructure system.

- The Government has approved the Strategy for the development of Vietnam's railway transport to 2020 and a vision to 2050 in Decision No. 1686/2008/QD-TTg dated November 20, 2008. Adjusting the Master Plan for the development of Vietnam's railway transport sector to 2020 and a vision to 2030 in Decision No. 1436/2009/QD-TTg dated September 10, 2009. The strategies and plans have specifically mentioned the renovation, upgrading and construction of new railway lines to improve the passenger and cargo transport capacity of Vietnam's railway network, in order to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization and better meet the travel needs of the people.

To implement the strategic goal of developing Vietnam's railway transport from now to 2020, the Ministry of Transport has been and will be upgrading and modernizing the existing North-South railway line, researching feasible high-speed railway options to have appropriate investment and construction plans: Hanoi - Vinh railway line, Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang, developing urban railways, inner and suburban railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, researching new investment in a 1,435m gauge railway line connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Can Tho City and Ho Chi Minh City with Vung Tau City.

In the spirit of Resolution No. 13-NQ/T.Ư dated January 16, 2012, the 4th Conference of the 11th Central Executive Committee, the Ministry of Transport is adjusting the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Railway Transport to 2020 and vision to 2050 and the Master Plan for the Development of Vietnam's Railway Transport Industry to 2020 and vision to 2030.

Delegation of National Assembly Deputies of Nghe An province