Nghe An accelerates resettlement progress for the High-Speed Railway Project.
The North-South High-Speed Railway project, specifically the section passing through Nghe An province, is large-scale, has a wide-ranging impact, and directly affects thousands of households. Over the past period, with the decisive leadership of the province and the coordinated efforts of various departments, agencies, and localities, resettlement work has seen positive progress, gradually resolving the project's bottlenecks.
Expedite the construction of resettlement areas.
The high-speed railway project passing through Lam Thanh commune is currently underway with a large volume of work, in which land clearance and resettlement are identified as key and urgent tasks. According to statistics, the railway line running through the commune is approximately 6.6 km long, affecting nearly 520,000 m² of land and involving about 180 households that need to be relocated.
To ensure the rights and stable livelihoods of the people, Lam Thanh commune has planned 5 resettlement areas with a total area of nearly 99,000 m², including: Chau Nhan 3 (over 29,355 m²), Van Vien - Loc Dien (over 36,289 m²), Hung Nghia 8 (over 21,757 m²), Hung Phuc 3 (over 6,416 m²) and Chau Nhan 1 (over 4,812 m²). The total compensation and support cost for 193 households whose land was expropriated is estimated at nearly 21 billion VND.
On-site observations at the Chau Nhan 3 and Hung Phuc 3 resettlement areas show a bustling construction atmosphere. Construction units have mobilized maximum machinery and equipment to level the ground, build internal roads, and construct drainage systems. After more than 20 days of implementation, many initial components have taken shape, creating a clear appearance for the resettlement areas.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Ha, Chairman of the Lam Thanh Commune People's Committee, said that immediately after the high-speed railway project was announced, the locality identified resettlement as a key task that needed to be prioritized. The Commune People's Committee assigned specific tasks to each department, urgently reviewing and selecting locations, and developing plans for resettlement areas based on the needs and aspirations of the people.
By January 10th, construction had begun on all five resettlement areas. Currently, after approximately 20 days of construction, contractors are focusing on removing weathered soil, preparing the foundation, and gradually completing the technical infrastructure. The resettlement areas are being comprehensively invested in internal transportation, drainage systems, and electricity supply to ensure stable and long-term living conditions for residents after relocation.
With construction progressing rapidly, Lam Thanh commune aims to complete all resettlement areas by June 2026. This is considered an important prerequisite for the locality to hand over clean land, contributing to ensuring the overall progress of the High-Speed Railway Project, and at the same time creating conditions for people to quickly stabilize their lives in their new homes.
According to a report from the Department of Construction, as of March 2026, construction work on resettlement areas had commenced in eight zones: two in Hoang Mai, one in Tan Chau, and five in Lam Thanh. On the construction sites, contractors mobilized machinery and personnel to level the ground, build internal roads, drainage systems, and provide electricity. Many resettlement areas have begun to take shape, creating confidence among residents about a new, more stable and modern living environment.
Foundation for national key projects
According to preliminary calculations, the North-South High-Speed Railway Project section through Nghe An province requires approximately 519.2 hectares of land to be cleared, with a total estimated compensation and support cost of around 6,397 billion VND. Approximately 2,150 households will be affected, of which about 1,782 will need to be relocated. To meet the demand for new housing, the province plans to build 41 resettlement areas with a total area of over 102 hectares and a total investment of approximately 1,450 billion VND.
According to the Department of Construction, out of the 18 communes and wards through which the project passes, 16 localities require the arrangement of resettlement areas. To date, these localities have basically completed the establishment of the steering committee, assigning specific tasks to each department and each official, ensuring that work does not overlap or become stalled.
One noteworthy point is that the survey and selection of locations for resettlement areas have been implemented quite synchronously. 100% (16/16) of communes and wards have received approval for the survey and selection of locations. This helps localities be more proactive in finding suitable land, limiting the occurrence of complaints and petitions from the people.
Regarding the planning, appraisal, and approval process, progress is generally satisfactory. All 16/16 communes and wards have completed the approval of detailed planning tasks for resettlement areas. Of these, 15 communes and wards have completed the detailed planning approval; only one commune is still having its documentation finalized by the consulting unit. This is an important foundation for implementing the next steps such as investment preparation, land clearance, and construction.
Investment preparation for resettlement areas is currently being carried out in two forms: one-step project planning and two-step project planning (feasibility study report).
Regarding the 24 resettlement areas undergoing a one-step planning process, 8 have completed the approval of construction drawings and cost estimates; 4 are currently undergoing appraisal; and 5 have selected consulting firms and are in the process of design implementation. However, 7 areas have yet to select consulting firms, mainly concentrated in some locations with a large workload, requiring further follow-up and resolution.
With 17 resettlement areas undergoing feasibility studies, progress has been positive. Seven areas have had their feasibility studies approved and are finalizing their documentation for design review; five areas are currently undergoing review; and four areas are being planned by consultants. One area has recently received approval to change its land subdivision plan to a resettlement plan, and the local authorities are currently adjusting the local planning.
In the compensation and land clearance process for resettlement areas, many localities have achieved positive results. To date, 19 areas have had their land surveying and clearance plans approved; 7 areas are awaiting appraisal by specialized agencies; and 8 areas are in the process of signing land ownership agreements. However, 7 areas still lack a designated surveying and land ownership signing unit.
Regarding land inventory, counting, and public meetings, eight areas have completed all land clearance work; six areas have completed inventory, valuation, and public disclosure of compensation plans; and five areas are currently undergoing on-site inventory. The remaining areas are in the process of extracting and measuring data, and therefore do not yet meet the conditions for issuing land acquisition notices.
It can be affirmed that the land clearance and resettlement construction for the North-South high-speed railway project section through Nghe An province is on the right track, with close guidance from the province, the coordinated involvement of departments, agencies and local authorities, and the consensus of the people, major "bottlenecks" are gradually being resolved.
