HCMC – The Government has proposed two special mechanisms for the North–South high-speed railway project, but a National Assembly committee said the measures remain unclear and may not address urgent needs.
Construction Minister Tran Hong Minh presented the proposal at a National Assembly session on December 8. The first mechanism would separate land clearance, compensation, resettlement, and the relocation of power facilities of 110 kV or higher into independent projects funded by both central and local budgets.
Local authorities and Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) would prepare and execute these projects without needing separate investment approvals. Central budget funds would be transferred directly to localities and EVN, while provinces could advance their own funds and receive reimbursement later.
The Government said the separation would allow these activities to run in parallel with the feasibility study, speed up procedures, and give local authorities greater flexibility.
The second proposal would allow the National Assembly to authorize its Standing Committee to adjust or add special policies for the project when the legislature is not in session. The Government said the project’s large scale and long implementation period could require timely policy changes.
This mechanism mirrors an arrangement applied to the western North–South expressway project from Gia Nghia to Chon Thanh.
According to Phan Van Mai, chairman of the National Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee, special mechanisms are necessary to mobilize resources and support private participation. However, some members said the proposals are not specific enough and do not fully address the project’s immediate challenges.
The committee noted there is precedent for separating land clearance into standalone components, as seen in the Long Thanh International Airport project. It said the Government must clarify the definition of “independent projects”, estimated costs, land-recovery needs, timelines, and consistency with the overall railway plan.
The committee added that the second mechanism is unnecessary, as existing resolutions already allow the Standing Committee to adjust policies and permit public–private partnership investment for the high-speed railway.
