PM establishes steering committee for key railway projects

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has set up a steering committee for key national railway projects with himself acting as its head.

According to Decision No. 609/QD-TTg signed on March 15, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha serves as the committee's standing deputy head while Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh take on roles as deputy heads.

Under the decision, the steering committee will oversee major railway developments, including the North-South high-speed railway, key interprovincial routes such as Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong, Hanoi–Lang Son, and Mong Cai–Ha Long, as well as urban railway projects in Hanoi and HCM City.

It will have the authority to expand its project portfolio by adding key railway projects to the list of urban railway initiatives in Hanoi and HCM City whenever necessary to ensure effective oversight and coordination.

The committee is assigned to advise the Prime Minister on key policies and solutions to speed up the progress of major railway projects, particularly the urban railway developments in the two major cities.

It will oversee the coordination of various ministries, sectors and local authorities to ensure that all investment and construction activities align with the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government.

The Ministry of Construction will serve as the standing body of the steering committee, responsible for drafting operation regulations, assisting the development of work plans, and preparing materials and reports for both regular and ad hoc meetings. It will also consolidate overall activities and undertake additional tasks as assigned by the head of the committee.

Funding for the committee will be covered by the State budget, allocated within recurrent expenditures of the Ministry of Construction in accordance with Article 19 of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 23/2023/QD-TTg dated June 18, 2023.- (VLLF)