Vietnam OKs Technical Support Package for ADB-funded Railway Project

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has approved the technical supporting package worth $1.1 million for the pilot urban railway No.3 from Nhon to Hanoi Railway Station. The project with a total investment of $1 billion was funded by the Asia Development Bank (ADB), French government’s official development assistance (ODA), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The 12.5 km route, whose construction was started in 2010, will include 8.5 km of aerial track connecting Nhon depot with Thu Le and 4 km of underground track connecting Thu Le with Hanoi Railway Station. The line will start at Nhon and travel to Cau Giay via National Highway 32, Ho Tung Mau and Xuan Thuy streets. It will also pass through Kim Ma, Nui Truc and Quoc Tu Giam streets. The project, which will include a viaduct, power supply stations and a depot, will be carried out by Hanoi Metropolitan Rail Transport Project Board (HRB). The line, which will be completed and is slated for operational in 2015, designed to carry 150,000 million passenger trips per day and will increase to 500,000 trips per day by 2030. The metro project is part of the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport’s master plan, which aims to reduce the use of private transport and enhance the urban environment. (Kinh Te & Do Thi –Economy & Urban May 8 p7)