The Ministry of Transport is going to reconsider the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway project in 2024 after it has been suspended for nearly 20 years due to investment problems.
The Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway project in 2024 after has been suspended for nearly 20 years due to investment problems.
The VND7,665 billion (USD326.30 million)-government invested 131-km project started in May 2005, running from Yen Vien Station in Hanoi through Bac Ninh, Hai Duong provinces, and ending at Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh Province.
About 43 kilometres of the 131 km rail track was planned to be newly built while the remaining 88 kilometres would be upgraded from the existing Kep - Ha Long railway line.
The project was expected to become a key component in the development of the northern economy, particularly in connecting two corridors and an economic belt between Vietnam and China.
Although scheduled to be put into operation in 2011, only a third of the project had been completed and the transport ministry explained this was due to a shortage in investment.
Many of the constructions are now covered in moss and badly deteriorated. Local residents have complained about their lives being badly affected by the sluggish project.
The ministry recently asked the Railway Project Management Board to look into the project again and make a new construction plan for approval in 2024.