Trans-Indochina railway, road proposed

The HCM City Association of Consultants in Science Technology and Management (Hascon) held a seminar over the weekend to discuss a proposed plan to build a trans-Indochina railway and road.

The project, which was conceived by former pilot Mai Trong Tuan, aims to build a parallel road and railway across Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The 1,410-km highway would start in Hanoi, go through Ha Tinh Province, Laos, Cambodia and end in HCM City.

Tuan suggested the road would have six lanes with a speed limit ranging from 80 and 100 km an hour while the railroad would allow trains to run at 150 to 200 km per hour. Construction of the project would build on existing roads in the three neighbouring nations.

The routes, stretching 540 kilometers in Vietnam, 560 kilometers in Laos and 310 kilometers in Cambodia, would make it easier for these nations to transport goods to Vietnamese ports and reduce traffic on National Highway 1A.

Scientists at the seminar, however, said it would take a long time to study and realise the project. Ha Ngoc Truong, vice chair of the HCM City Bridge, Road and Port Association, said it would be impossible to build the parallel road and railway, especially on mountain passes.

The project should be made to last 100 years or it would not attract investors, Truong added.

Hascon vice chair and general secretary Tran Duc Thinh said the project wouldn’t serve the needs of people in the central region so more research was necessary.

Hascon chair Nguyen Bach Phuc said it is necessary to establish a government funded consulting council to study the project before submitting to the transport ministry. – Saigon Times

Tags: Trans-Indochina railway