Web Portal - In the morning of August 23, the Ministry of Transport held an online meeting with 4 localities namely Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau to discuss investment plans for the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway project and light rail Thu Thiem-Long Thanh international airport. At Dong Nai online point, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang chaired the meeting
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang speaks at the meeting at Dong Nai online point
At the meeting, localities wanted to invest in these two railway lines soon to facilitate traffic connections and meet the needs of goods and passenger transportation. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang said that Dong Nai province really wishes that these two railway lines will soon be invested in order to reduce pressure on road traffic as well as connect traffic with Long Thanh International Airport and other neighboring cities and provinces.
Also according to the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Law on Railways does not stipulate that the Provincial People's Committee organizes investment and construction of railway lines under the national railway network, therefore, the province cannot be the investor of these two projects. If there is a basis for Dong Nai province as an investor, the province will try to implement two projects. Dong Nai supports the plan that the Ministry of Transport to be the investor of 2 railway projects Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and light rail Thu Thiem- Long Thanh international airport.
Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway line
Concluding the meeting, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The requested the specialized agencies and consulting units to complete the pre-feasibility study report (PSR) by April 2023, to submit the report to National Assessment Council in Sept 2023. For consulting work, if it is necessary to hire foreign consultants to ensure progress and quality. Leaders of the Ministry of Transport also suggested that in the coming time, the consulting unit and specialized agencies of the ministry must closely coordinate with localities to carefully consider the route alignment as well as station locations. The consultant also needs to consider both investment options with budget capital and PPP capital (public-private partnership); study the railway track gauges for 2 options of 1m gauge and 1,435m gauge and have a suitable proposal.
The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau railway line has a length of 84km and the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway has a length of 38km, expected to be invested before 2030.