Hanoi to break ground on two metro lines
Urban railways help solve congestion, environmental pollution, and urban traffic accidents.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi People’s Committee has announced plans to begin construction on two urban railway lines and six bridges this year.
According to the plan, work on Metro Line 2 (Nam Thang Long–Tran Hung Dao) and Metro Line 5 (Van Cao–Hoa Lac) will begin in October.
Metro Line 2 will span 11.5 kilometers, including 8.9 kilometers underground and 2.6 kilometers elevated with seven underground and three elevated stations.
The estimated cost of the project has increased to nearly VND35.6 trillion (US$1.4 billion), nearly double the initial estimate approved in 2008.
Passengers on Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line, the first of its kind in Hanoi. Photo: Khanh Huy/The Hanoi Times
Meanwhile, Metro Line 5 will require an investment of more than VND61.9 trillion ($2.4 billion) with a length of 38 kilometers, having six underground and 15 elevated stations.
Hanoi currently has two metro lines in operation: The 13-kilometer Cat Linh–Yen Nghia line and the 8.5-kilometer Nhon-Hanoi station line, which began service in November 2021 and August 2024, respectively.
The city plans to complete 97 kilometers of metro lines by 2030 and 200 kilometers by 2045. It also expects to have 10 metro lines, totaling over 410 kilometers, by 2050 and 25 lines, totaling 617 kilometers, by 2065.
Regarding bridges. In addition to the Tu Lien Bridge, for which construction began earlier this month, Hanoi’s Mayor Tran Sy Thanh set construction schedules for other bridges of Hong Ha, Me So, Thuong Cat, Ngoc Hoi, Tran Hung Dao, and Van Phuc this year.
Activating special mechanism to speed up urban railways
The Hanoi authorities proposed six groups of specific mechanisms and policies, including those related to capital mobilization, investment procedures, the transit oriented development (TOD) model, the development of the railway industry, technology transfer, and training.
One important highlight is the integration of urban development planning with the TOD model.
A bird's-eye view of the Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line. Photo: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times
To accelerate urban transport infrastructure, the Hanoi People's Committee has set goals for urban railway line progress to ensure the project's overall success, publicity, transparency, and efficiency.
The relevant units will review land ownership and use along the railway corridor and compile a list of land funds with development potential according to the TOD model. This list will serve as the basis for optimizing alignment plans and construction locations.
Functional units, meanwhile, are requested to review power system planning to ensure supply for urban railway projects, especially those implemented according to the TOD model.
At the same time, relevant units are tasked with expediting investment procedures while local authorities are urged to prioritize land acquisition and site clearance for key projects.
