Chinese experts resume delayed work on Hanoi metro line

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The long-delayed Cat Linh – Ha Dong urban railway line, the first of its kind in Hanoi, is scheduled to be put into operation this year (Photo: VOV)

Two weeks ago, these Chinese experts arrived in Vietnam. After that, they were immediately placed into quarantine in Ha Dong. They have tested negative for the Covid-19 and meet the necessary requirements to return to work, said a representative of the Project Management Board.

The first task of the experts will be to conduct all incomplete work and handle relevant paperwork ahead of the metro line running on a trial basis, according to VOV.

“However, nobody knows exactly when the test-run will be conducted as we have to wait for all Chinese experts and French consultants to come here and examine the project,” the representative outlined.

“We do not know either when exactly they will come because the COVID-19 pandemic is currently evolving in a complex manner in a number of countries. We do hope however that they will return to Vietnam this month.”

Chinese experts have started the delayed work of the project (Photo: Investment News)

According to the Ministry of Transport, Hanoi Urban Railway Project, Cat Linh - Ha Dong line has now basically completed the workload of construction and equipment installation. The rest of the work is mainly to complete the scene, beautify and repair a number of pieces of equipment to operate the whole system, modify and complete the profile to handover the project.

Mr. Vu Hong Truong - General Director of Hanoi Railway Co., Ltd. (Metro Hanoi) said that currently the work is conducted by the Railway Project Management Board (Ministry of Transport) and EPC General Contractor, Lao Dong reported.

Part of Cat Linh - Ha Dong line (Photo: Urban Economy)

The project first got off the ground in October 2011, and was scheduled for completion in 2013. Construction has been postponed several times due to loan disbursement problems. Its investment cost overrun to VND 18,000 trillion (USD 868 million) including USD 669.6 million in official development assistance loan from China.

Last month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Transport, Hanoi municipal administration and general contractors to speed up the progress on the line to assure that the project will be put into commercial operation this year.

Ho Chi Minh City proposes a new $2.9 billion metro line Ho Chi Minh City authorities have proposed a 20-kilometer-long worth VND68 trillion ($2.9 billion) metro line to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consideration.

Hanoi gives greenlight to plan of implementing two urban metro lines The municipal Party Committee of Hanoi has approved a plan to build two new metro lines.

600 Vietnamese staff trained for Hanoi’s metro line Opening Operational staff for Hanoi’s first metro line has been trained, but its opening date remains up in the air.