Hanoi’s second metro line delayed one more time hinh anh 1Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line on a trial run in late 2022. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi’s authorities have proposed delaying the operation of the elevated section of Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in Hanoi, to August 2023 instead of late 2022 as planned.

The municipal People’s Committee plans to complete the Nhon depot in May this year and hand over the system and safety certificate in August the same year.

The city’s authorities blamed the delay on limited capacity of contractors, investors and consultant units as well as improper cooperation of relevant agencies.

Other reasons come from problems related to regulations, standards, unit prices, railway materials and equipment.

The city’s authorities also proposed extending the operation time of the whole metro line until 2027, thus increasing the construction costs by about 1.9 trillion VND (80.5 million USD to over 34.8 trillion VND (1.4 billion USD).

The metro line’s expenditure was adjusted by almost twice in 2014 from over 18 trillion VND to nearly 33 trillion VND.

Currently, the whole project is about 75.6% complete, with work on the elevated section meeting 97.6%, and the underground section 33%. However, the project is facing difficulties in construction and payment for contractors as the procedures for adjusting investment policies had not been completed before 2023 as planned.
Three out of nine contractors have sent documents asking for construction suspension from early February 2023.

The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line is 12.5 km long, passing through eight elevated stations and four underground stations. The elevated section of Nhon-Cau Giay covers 8.5km and the underground section of Cau Giay-Hanoi Station is 4 km long. The depot located in Nhon covers an area of 15 hectares.

Work on the route started in 2009 and was initially scheduled for completion in 2015. After four deadline extensions, the metro line is expected to be finished in 2027./.
VNA