The Prime Minister requested that priority be given to resettlement and land clearance for key railway projects.

Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha and Ho Duc Phoc co-chaired the meeting.

At the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee's meeting point, Comrade Hoang Phu Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - presided over the meeting; also present were representatives of the leaders of relevant departments, agencies and units.

Nghe An is taking decisive action in land clearance.

The meeting aimed to assess the progress of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line; the Hanoi - Lang Son and Hai Phong - Mong Cai lines; the North-South high-speed railway construction investment project; and urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding Nghe An province, the North-South high-speed railway project runs through it. The project has a total length of approximately 1,541 km, of which the section through Nghe An is about 85.5 km long, passing through 18 localities.

Reporting at the session, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh stated that the Ministry had developed a system of technical standards and regulations for the project; the Ministry of Science and Technology had appraised, issued, and published standards and regulations for high-speed railways with a design speed of 200-350 km/h.

During the pre-feasibility study process, the consulting unit is responsible for reviewing, updating, and supplementing the necessary standards to ensure their appropriate application to the project. The Ministry of Construction has also reported to the Standing Committee of the Government on the selection of technology and partners during the implementation process.

Currently, localities and the Vietnam Electricity Corporation are actively reviewing, counting, and implementing land clearance and resettlement work. The Ministry of Construction is seeking opinions from ministries, sectors, and localities on the draft Government Resolution allowing the separation of compensation, support, and resettlement into independent projects for implementation, expected to be submitted to the Government in March 2026.

Minister Tran Hong Minh stated that in the coming period, they will organize the selection of consultants and prepare feasibility studies, which will serve as the basis for the preparation, appraisal, and approval of component projects, striving to start construction on some items of the project as soon as possible.

According to calculations, implementing the project in Nghe An province requires clearing over 519 hectares of land, with a total cost of approximately 6,397 billion VND. Around 2,150 households will be affected, including 1,782 households in 16 communes who will need to be relocated to 41 resettlement areas.

Recognizing this as a project of special importance and significance, Nghe An province has included the compensation, support, and resettlement work for the section of the project passing through the province in the list of 12 projects under the direction of the Provincial Steering Committee for Key Projects.

Thanks to this decisive effort, the province has basically completed the survey, site selection, planning, appraisal, and approval of resettlement area plans; at the same time, it is preparing for investment and carrying out land clearance, striving to complete the construction of resettlement areas before June 30, 2026.

However, to ensure progress and timely handover of land, the province requests that the route be adjusted at some locations and that land clearance markers be placed along the route for handover to the local authorities for implementation.

BIt is essential to ensure that people's lives after relocation are better than in their previous homes.

After hearing the opinions of ministries, departments, localities, and Deputy Prime Ministers, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a concluding speech, emphasizing key tasks in the coming period, focusing on technology, human resources, and capital for project implementation.

The Prime Minister paid particular attention to land clearance work; in particular, he highly appreciated the policy of separating this aspect from the overall project for early implementation, and also welcomed the proactive spirit of preparation and implementation by localities, including Nghe An province.

Adhering to the principle of not sacrificing progress, fairness, and social welfare for the sake of mere growth, the head of government requested localities to focus on effectively implementing land clearance and resettlement work, ensuring that the lives of people after relocation are better than in their previous homes; resettlement areas must truly meet the increasingly improved living conditions.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister requested that localities proactively, actively, and decisively act in the best interests of the people; promptly report to the Steering Committee when difficulties arise; and at the same time, prevent negativity, waste, and corruption in the relocation and resettlement process; ensuring that people fully, fairly, and adequately benefit from the policies of the Party and the State, and feel secure in giving up their land for key national projects.