Transport Minister Nguyen Van The asked the contractor to complete the dossier as prescribed for the prompt operation and exploitation of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated urban railway in the capital city of Hanoi.The minister made the request at a working session with Project Managing Director Tang Hong (the engineering – procurement – construction (EPC) contractor - China Railway Sixth Group Co. Ltd) in Hanoi on December 24.
Hanoi accelerates procedures for official operation of Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway. Photo: Huy Hung
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Project Managing Director Tang Hong added that there are still some difficulties in putting the final touches for the project to become operational according to the plan.
He stressed that different views and legal provisions in the procedures and processes between the two countries are blamed for the slow progress.
Therefore, Hong expressed his hope that Minister Nguyen Van The will give instruction and create favorable conditions for and the settlement.
Minister The once again emphasized that the quick completion of the project and putting it into operation would be significant for tthe Vietnam-China cooperation.
He affirmed that the ministry will instructthe department of construction and transport works quality management and the management board for railway projects to coordinate with relevant agencies in Hanoi to help the contractor check and take over the work in the earliest time in line with legal regulations.
However, the minister asked the contractor to complete its dossiers on origin of equipment and materials and completion of each part of the project so that the railway can be put into operation soon.
After handing-over the project, the contractor should continue support in human resources training to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the project, The added.
Trial run on the railway started in September and is expected to last three to six months. The transport ministry expects to put the trains into comercial operation before the 2019 Tet holiday, which falls in early February 2019. However, no specific day for the kick-off has been set so far.
Work on the Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway line, which runs for more than 13 km, linking Cat Linh street in Dong Da district in Hanoi downtown with Yen Nghia bus station in Ha Dong district, began in October 2011 and was originally planned for completion in 2013.
The railway includes 12 stations and a depot at Phu Luong ward in Ha Dong district and will operate 13 trains with four carriages each that will run every two minutes at speeds of between 35 and 80 km per hour.
All carriages and some 95% of equipment have been moved to the construction site while nearly 79% of the installation work has been completed so far.
The railway has been constructed using official development assistance from China with a total investment of US$868 million after several cost overruns.
