Ministry of Transport proposes spending 400 billion VND to supplement signal systems at 184 level crossings

In a report sent to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport said it had assigned the Vietnam Railway Authority and the Vietnam Railway Corporation to review and identify the list of level crossings that need to be repaired and fully supplemented with signal systems to ensure traffic safety, under the Project to repair and fully supplement signal systems for 566 level crossings.

Through review, level crossings that overlap with investment projects implemented with other capital sources, level crossings on branch routes with low operating speeds, train density and road traffic volume have been removed from the list.

The authorities also updated and supplemented existing level crossings that have been expanded but still lack signals, have degraded and outdated equipment, and have increased traffic volume, level crossings that have branch roads, and access roads to level crossings that have a high risk of traffic accidents (replacing level crossings that have been removed from the list).

On that basis, the Ministry of Transport identified a list of 184 level crossings that really need to be repaired and have a complete signal system to ensure traffic safety, improve investment efficiency, save the state budget, and ensure convenient travel for people.

The Ministry of Transport estimates the budget for implementation to be 400 billion VND, of which more than 361.8 billion VND will be used to complete the entire repair and full addition of signal systems for these 184 manned level crossings and more than 38 billion VND will be used to pay and settle costs for level crossings implemented from 2023 onwards.

To ensure the completion of the repair and full addition of the signal system for level crossings in 2025, the Ministry of Transport proposed that the Deputy Prime Minister direct the Ministry of Finance to consider allocating 50 billion VND. from the 2024 Central Budget economic activity reserve fund to carry out investment preparation work for 184 level crossings and finalize accounts for projects completed from 2023 onwards. In 2025, additional capital for railway economic activities will be allocated at 350 billion VND. to complete all 566 cross-roads as prescribed.

In 2021, the Prime Minister approved the project to repair and fully supplement signals for 566 guarded level crossings; implementation progress will start in 2022 and be completed in 2023.

In 2022 and 2023, Vietnam Railways Corporation has completed the repair and addition of signals at 382/566 level crossings, while 184 level crossings have not been repaired due to lack of capital allocation. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport has reported and proposed that the Government allocate capital to implement the remaining 184 level crossings.

At the end of July, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Transport to direct the Vietnam Railway Corporation and other agencies and units to urgently review, make a list and estimate the budget for implementation. The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to arrange sufficient funding to complete the repair of all 566 level crossings by 2025 at the latest.