US$62.5Mln Earmarked for Modernizing Three Vietnam Railways
Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has allowed Chinese contractors to offer bids as consulting and supervising agencies for a project modernizing signal and information systems for three railway routes in the northern region and Hanoi railway center.
Under the project at a total cost of over VND1 trillion (US$62.5 million), optical cables for signal and information facilities including digitalized operators will be installed on three railway routes: Hanoi-Lao Cai-Dong Dang, Hanoi-Thai Nguyen and Hanoi Railway Center.
The project, which is scheduled for completion this year, will help improve safety for passengers and trains on these links.
In a related development, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) just approved a US$60 million loan for the project to improve 285km of degraded rail line linking Hanoi to Lao Cai, ADB’s website reported.
Once completed by the end of 2012, the project will boost trade and tourism from China and Northern Vietnam.
Vietnam is now estimated to have about 2,600 km of rail line, most of which is degraded and should be improved. (VNA, ThanhNien Online)
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