Vietnam plans to modernise its transportation infrastructure by buildingthousands of kilometres of new expressways along modern railways andairports, the English language news website dtinews.vn reported.

PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the plans for the massiveproject, which is scheduled to be carried out through 2020.

Thetarget is to build around 600 kilometres of new expressways by 2015increasing to 2,000 kilometres by 2020. The upgrade and expansion ofNational Highway 1A, stretching from Hanoi to Can Tho City, is expectedto be completed before 2016.

Priority will be given to upgradesof the north-south rail line and there are plans to study the prospectof building an elevated north-south express railway. Other rail lineswill be added, including Lao Cai-Hanoi, Hanoi-Hai Phong, Hanoi-DongDang, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau and Saigon-Can Tho routes.

Lines linking to seaports will be considered as well.

Forwaterways, the goal is to improve the waterways linking the MekongDelta region with Ho Chi Minh City as well as with the Tien, Hau, Redand Thai Binh rivers.

The building of modern wharves at portssuch as Lach Huyen in Hai Phong City and Cai Mep-Thi Vai in Vung Tauwill be prioritised along with encouraging foreign investment in VanPhong International Depot in Khanh Hoa province.

In terms ofaviation, a target for domestic airlines to increase their market shareof foreign passengers by 45.86 percent has been set. New routes toSouthern Asia, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, North America,South America and Africa would be launched.

The country will also renovate several international airports including Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Danang, Can Tho and Cam Ranh.

Theequitisation of the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, isexpected to be complete this year with the Government retaining a 75percent stake.-VNA