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The Ministry of Transport has asked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to start conducting feasibility studies on two portions of an express-railway linking Hanoi with Vinh City in central Nghe An Province and HCMC-Nha Trang.
Nguyen Huu Bang, director general of the Vietnam Railway Corporation, was expected to have an official meeting with JICA to discuss the issue Wednesday.
In an interview with VnExpress, Nguyen Minh Thuyet, vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, said the decision to start a feasibility study for the Hanoi-HCM City express railway did not contradict an earlier National Assembly decision to block the national high-speed rail network.
The plan's implementation will still face a National Assembly vote prior to being enacted.
During discussions at the National Assembly's June session, a majority of legislators rejected the rail plan due to the prohibitive costs involved and perceived lack of social benefits.
The project would cost about US$56 billion. Japan has agreed to grant Vietnam Official Development Assistance to undertake the feasibility study.
According to Do Van Hat, director general of the Railways Investment and Construction Consultancy Company, the study would start sometime in November 2010. It is due for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2012.
In addition, the Vietnam Railway Corporation has asked JICA to help develop a feasibility study for the construction of a 25km express railway from Ngoc Hoi station (south of Hanoi ) to Noi Bai International Airport, Hat said.
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