A giant railway project linking Hanoi and the northern port province of Quang Ninh has been delayed for many years due to an investment shortfall.

Many sections of Cai Lan Station are covered with wild grass

To date, up to around VND4.5 trillion ($182 million) from the state budget has been poured into the VND7.6 trillion project.

The project plays a very important role in Vietnam’s railway development plan to link Yen Vien Station with Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh, transporting both passengers and goods. It is also expected to help boost the construction of industrial parks along National Highway 18 running through Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Bac Ninh provinces.

Construction on Cai Lan Station has been completed, but it has not yet a chance to serve trains as the railway project has been left idle. 

Many sections of the station are covered with wild grass. The security guards’ only responsibility is supervising the station to prevent thieves.

Opposite to Cai Lan Station is Cai Lan Port which has also not yet been operated at full capacity due to the railway route’s delay. Quang Ninh Province intended to lease the port to T&T Group, however, the two sides failed to reach a rental agreement.

Khuong The Duy, deputy head of the Vietnam Railway Authority, said the Yen Vien-Cai Lan rail line could help to shorten the travel time from Hanoi to Ha Long City by 2-2.5 hours compared to 7.5 hours of the current railway route which runs from Ha Long to Bac Giang Province and then Hanoi.

Duy said that the construction of Yen Vien-Cai Lan railway project has been halted following the government’s decision on reducing public investment.

The project now needs VND6 trillion) (USD272.7 million) to be completed from the initial VND3 trillion level after being delayed for many years.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said that the project has not yet been listed among projects which will be allocated capital from now until 2020. So the Ministry of Transport has called on private investors to continue the project. However, to date, no investor has shown an interest.

“The Transport Ministry has informed the government of the project problems and is still waiting from the government for feedback,” Dong said.  

dtinews