Experts have finalized the total cost for the construction of the Vietnam – Cambodia is about 686 million USD, according to a feasibility study for the construction begining from Kampong Speu province (Cambodia) to the southern border province of Binh Phuoc (Vietnam).

However, this money is not including the settlement compensations for residents affected by the project.

It is part of the Singapore-Kunming railroad project, so it will be a key railroad for Cambodia to truck goods to regional and global markets, especially in the framework of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

Chinese Railway Ministry's Third Railway Survey and Design Institute has concluded the feasibility study for the construction from July 2009 with a total investment up to 3 million USD funded by China.

As planned, the railroad is 257 kilometers in length, starting in Kampong Speu Province’s Oudong district, pass by Kratie province’s Snuol district and end at Vietnam’s Loc Ninh district in the southern border province of Binh Phuoc.

"The project will provide huge economic benefits to Cambodia, especially on the development of agriculture and mineral resources, as well as tourism sector", experts said. The study result will be submitted to Prime Minister Hun Sen to make decision.

The railway will be part of an intra-Asian railway that runs from Singapore to China via Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is expected to be complete within 30 months.

Now, Cambodia is upgrading its railroad system via a 73 million USD grant from the Asian Development Bank./.

(CPV)