Hanoi's second metro line to partly open next April

At a Thursday conference on traffic and road management organized by the Hanoi People’s Council, Duong Duc Tuan, vice chairman of the council, said the elevated section of the line, the second to be launched in Hanoi, could boost of public transport use from 19% to 21.5% of the city's population.

Hanoi is currently considering two plans to limit personal vehicles: a motorbike ban in certain districts in 2030, and collecting fees from vehicles entering downtown areas. However, only when public transport use percentage reaches at least 30% will the possibility of limiting personal vehicles be considered, Tuan said.

In order to meet that target, Hanoi wants light rail to be the capital’s main means of transport and has planned 10 lines for the city until 2030, with a total length of 417 km, with 342 km elevated and 75 km underground section. So far, only the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line has been completed and opened for use in November 2021 after 12 years in the making.

"If ongoing projects progress as they should, it will take 150 years to complete the 10 urban railways as planned. This is unacceptable," Tuan said, adding that the capital is drafting a plan to hasten the progress of urban railways.

As planned the construction of 10 urban railways in Hanoi is expected to cost around VND1 quadrillion ($411.68 billion).

The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line spans 12.5 km, with eight elevated stations and four underground stops. The Nhon-Cau Giay elevated section spans 8.5 km, while the Cau Giay-Hanoi Station underground section spans 4 km. The project began construction in 2009 and was originally planned to be completed in 2015. However, due to numerous delays, the new completion date for the entire line is in 2027. The line is now 78% completed.

In March, Hanoi proposed to have the line’s elevated section open for operation in August 2023.