The Quang Tri Department of Construction said the North-South high-speed railway will run for over 190 km through the province, with two main stations planned for Dong Hoi City and Dong Ha City. There will also be four maintenance stations in Bo Trach, Ninh Chau, Tan My, and Ai Tu communes.

The railway will run east of the North-South expressway, passing through 35 communes and wards. The project will occupy about 1,865 hectares of land, impacting over 7,200 households, of which almost 3,100 will require resettlement.

The area of Vuc Tron Lake, Phu Trach commune, located at the foot of Hoanh Son mountain, is expected to be crossed by the North-South high-speed railway. Photo: Dac Thanh

The area of Vuc Tron Lake, Phu Trach commune, located at the foot of Hoanh Son mountain, is expected to be crossed by the North-South high-speed railway. Photo: Dac Thanh

Quang Tri province plans to build 51 resettlement areas at a cost of approximately 3,180 billion VND. The Department of Construction, as the standing body of the Steering Committee, is coordinating with relevant departments, sectors, and localities to complete legal procedures and investment processes to commence construction on at least one resettlement area on 19/8.

In Ha Tinh province, the North-South high-speed railway project will pass through 23 communes and wards, affecting over 1,300 households. The province plans to build 35 resettlement areas, with 9 each in Thach Ha and Cam Xuyen districts, 3 in Ha Tinh City, and smaller-scale areas in the remaining communes and wards.

The Ha Tinh Department of Construction stated that only a 6-hectare plot in Lien Vinh village, Ha Huy Tap ward currently meets planning, land use, and infrastructure requirements. Construction on the first resettlement area will begin on 19/8.

For the remaining 34 areas, the communes and wards must complete detailed planning in July and approve investment projects before 10/2025 to ensure timely site clearance for the railway project by the end of 2026.

The resettlement area for the North-South expressway project in Quynh Vinh, Hoang Mai town (Nghe An province), will be expanded to serve as a resettlement area for the high-speed rail project. Photo: Hung Le

The resettlement area for the North-South expressway project in Quynh Vinh, Hoang Mai town (Nghe An province), will be expanded to serve as a resettlement area for the high-speed rail project. Photo: Hung Le

In Nghe An, the North-South high-speed railway project traverses 18 communes and wards, affecting about 2,150 households, nearly 2,000 of which will need resettlement. The province plans to build 30 resettlement areas totaling over 102 hectares, with a budget of 1,450 billion VND.

Three locations are prioritized: Hoang Mai ward, Tan Chau commune, and Hung Nguyen Nam commune, due to available land, convenient infrastructure, and minimal site clearance issues. In addition to residential arrangements, Nghe An also aims to use the project as an opportunity for urban restructuring.

The Vinh station area in Thanh Vinh ward will be planned as a 44-hectare transit-oriented development (TOD), connecting directly to the North-South expressway, National Highway 1, and other main roads, with the goal of becoming a central logistics and service hub for the province.

The National Assembly approved the North-South high-speed railway project in 11/2024 with a preliminary total investment of approximately 1.7 quadrillion VND (67 billion USD). The 1,541 km double-track line (1,435 mm gauge) is designed for speeds of 350 km/h, with 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations, passing through 20 provinces and cities from Ngoc Hoi (Hanoi) to Thu Thiem (TP HCM). In addition to public investment, the National Assembly has permitted the project to be implemented through public-private partnerships (PPP) or business investment.

At a meeting of the Steering Committee for key railway projects on 9/7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that site clearance has been separated from the investment project and assigned to provinces and cities. Therefore, local leaders must directly oversee implementation. Relevant agencies are to promptly hand over the planned route for the next steps.

The Ministry of Construction is responsible for completing the technical standards and regulations by 20/7. The Ministry of Science and Technology will appraise and announce these standards by 10/8. The Prime Minister requested that all localities simultaneously commence site clearance for the North-South high-speed railway project on 19/8.

Dac Thanh - Duc Hung