Viet Nam to develop urban highway and railway
(04/05/2004 -- 18:24GMT+7)
Ha Noi, Apr. 5 (VNA) - Apart from minimising private means of transport and developing public transport system, the government will focus on the development of urban highways and railway networks in an effort to reduce traffic accidents and congestion, a senior official said.
Transport Minister Dao Dinh Binh said that this year his ministry will set up a highway investment and development corporation to carry out the programme. Within this month, the ministry will its the elevated railway project in Ha Noi to the Prime Minister, he added.
Whilst in Ho Chi Minh City, the Japanese Government pledged finance for the construction of an express railway. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is studying a project to build the Ben Thanh-Bien Hoa railway.
Minister Binh also proposed the Government allocate more money to localities to develop the public transport systems, especially the metro and elevated railways, to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
Under the railway masterplan to 2020, parallel with the existing North-South railway, which will be upgraded, the Government plans to build an express railway, capable of linking up to international lines.
