VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi's first urban metro line is expected to become operational by the end of 2016, its first geological survey having taken place yesterday, July7.

The blueprint of Le Duc Tho Station, part of Ha Noi's first urban metro line which is expected to go into operation by the end of 2016. — File Photo
The French Embassy's economic counsellor, Marie-Cecile Tardieu-Smith, said that the geological survey would provide technical design for underground stations and tunnels on route.

Gaps between drill bits would be reduced in order to obtain insight into geological conditions, ensuring exact and safe design.

Tardieu-Smith added that construction bidding would soon commence.

An overall progress plan has been drawn up by the municipal People's Committee, donors, management boards and SYSTRA, an international engineering and consulting group.

City authorities have urged the project management board to speed up the linking of the Tu Liem District and the Ha Noi Railway Station. "Faced with particular difficulties, project progress has been slow since initial planning in May," Tardieu-Smith said, adding that, while donors have tried ensuring construction progress as well as efficient land clearance, project costs have been affected.

SYSTRA Project Director Alain Bechereav said that the slow pace had been due to drawn out underground studies.

"The rail system is planned to run at a depth of 15m so as not to affect the city's existing underground," he said, adding that the metro line would ensure safety and convenience.

David Chevallier, geotechnical project engineer, said that weather factors for water drainage during heavy rain, earthquakes and power cuts have all been taken into account. Construction started last September and was initially planned for completion in 2015. The 780 million euro (US$538.3 million) project investment came from French ODA and Asian Development Bank Ordinary Capital Resources for low and middle income countries.

The metro line is set to include a 12km elevated section, 3.6km of underground railway, 12 stops and a 15-ha station based in the Tu Liem District.

More than 150,000 people are expected to use the rail line a day, rising to almost half a million a day by 2030 while Hanoi's population is forecast to grow to around 8 million by 2025.

In addition to this project, Ha Noi has four other urban railway projects to finish by 2020, as part of the city's traffic development plan.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News