Ministry of Transport puts stop to numerous railway projects The Ministry of Transport has decided to stop a number of state and ODA-funded railways projects after discovering corruption and other misconduct by the two investors, the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VRC) and Vietnam Railway Administration (VNRA). The ministry is now seeking new investors for a number of projects, that were in progress or in the planning stages.   Licenses revoked on numerous railway projects As a result, VRC has had their investment licenses revoked for seven ongoing projects. The most prominent misconduct seems to be a case in which VRC’s deputy general director, Tran Quoc Dong, was arrested under the suspicion he received a JPY80 million ($780,890) bribe from a Japanese partner. VRC also had licenses revoked for several other projects using Japanese ODA, including the Hanoi metro project. Several other VRC’s suspended projects, using French and Chinese loans, including projects to build the Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi-Dong Dang, Hanoi-Thai Nguyen, Yen Vien-Lao Cai, Vinh-HCM City, and Hanoi-Vinh railways. Six other VRC projects that scheduled, including the railway crossing Hai Van Pass, Hanoi-HCM City railway safety improvement using Japan ODAs. Projects to modernise railway lighting systems for Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi-Dong Dang, Hanoi-Thai Nguyen railways using Chinese loans have also suspended. Three VNRA projects that were already underway and two others that scheduled, including the Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway project, which was seeking approval for an increase in investment of USD300 million. VNRA’s director was recently criticised by the minister of transport for a lack of responsibility during the management of the project. By Chau Nhu Quynh, dtinews.vn