Proposal for over 35,000 billion VND investment in Nam Thang Long

The total investment of Hanoi urban railway line No. 2, Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao section is expected to be more than 35,000 billion VND, an increase of more than 80% compared to the original.

The Hanoi People's Committee has just submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration an adjustment to the investment policy for the Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao urban railway project. The city proposed a total investment of nearly VND35,590 billion, an increase of more than VND16,030 billion (about 82%) compared to the total approved in 2008. Of which, the adjusted ODA loan capital is more than VND29,670 billion, and Hanoi's counterpart capital is more than VND5,910 billion.

The two items with the largest capital increase are construction costs (increased by more than VND6,670 billion) and equipment costs (increased by more than VND2,750 billion). The increase in total investment is due to changes in scale, exchange rates, fluctuations in fuel prices, materials, equipment, labor and wages, etc.

Hanoi leaders explained that the feasibility study report was prepared in 2007-2008 when Vietnam did not have full standards and unit prices applicable to urban railways. The consultancy unit's determination of the total investment was based only on the investment rates of similar projects that have been and are being built in Asia such as Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, and India.

On the other hand, although the compatibility with construction conditions and price levels in Hanoi in 2008 was considered, due to lack of practical experience, the calculation did not fully consider safety requirements and did not fully calculate the organization of operation, exploitation and maintenance.

Perspective of the controversial C9 underground station. Photo: MRB — Perspective of the controversial C9 underground station. Photo: *MRB*

Regarding completion time, Hanoi People's Committee proposed to implement the project until 2031, specifically operating in 2029 and two years of training and maintenance.

Hanoi also proposed to keep the length of the railway line as previously approved at 11.5 km, but change the elevated section from 8.5 km to 8.9 km and the underground section from 3 km to 2.6 km. The reason is to change the transition plan from the overpass to the tunnel, adjusting the range between the elevated and underground sections.

In addition, the managing unit proposed to reduce the number of trains from 14 to 10; the project's land use area from 49 to 51 hectares.

Regarding the construction location of the underground station C9, which was once feared to affect the Hoan Kiem Lake relic, the Hanoi People's Committee said that the plan to build the station C9 under Dinh Tien Hoang Street, in front of the Hanoi Electricity Corporation, only "adjusts the position of the station body and adjusts the structure to ensure technical safety within the corridor of the route". This plan does not violate the protection zone II of the Hoan Kiem Lake relic, does not affect the safety of cultural works, preserves historical, cultural and architectural values and has been carefully studied by the Hanoi People's Committee, and consulted with relevant ministries and branches.

The feasibility study report of the metro line No. 2 project, Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao section, was approved by the Hanoi People's Committee in November 2008. The project has a total investment of 19,555 billion VND, using ODA loans from the Japanese Government and counterpart funds from the state budget. Implementation period from 2009 to 2015.

The urban railway line starts from Nam Thang Long (Nam Thang Long - Ciputra urban area) along Nguyen Van Huyen extended street - Hoang Quoc Viet - Hoang Hoa Tham - Thuy Khue - Phan Dinh Phung - Hang Giay - Hang Duong - Hang Ngang - Hang Dao - Dinh Tien Hoang - Hang Bai and ends at the end point intersecting with Tran Hung Dao street. On the line, there are 3 elevated stations, 7 underground stations, the location of the maintenance and repair area (Depot) is located in Xuan Dinh ward, Bac Tu Liem district.

Up to now, the project is still carrying out investment procedures, with little movement on the ground. By the fourth quarter of 2023, the districts are clearing the ground at the depot, the elevated station and the underground station, with the disbursed amount only reaching about 900 billion VND.

Doan Loan

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