Public complains Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro tickets are too expensive

Some Hanoi residents have complained that the prices charged for the first metro line in the city, Cat Linh-Ha Dong, claiming it is too high because it doesn't connect to any other lines.

Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line will be opened in May

Vu Hong Tuong, director of Hanoi Metro Company, said the metro line would be opened for free for the first 15 days. Afterwards, the fare would range from VND7,000 (3 US cents) to VND15,000. The fare for a 25km trip is VND7,000, VND9,000 for over 30km trips and VND15,000 if passengers want to travel the whole route. A one-day pass cost VND30,000 and a monthly pass cost VND200,000.

The monthly pass for students, elderly people and industrial workers is from VND55,000 (USD2.3) to VND100,000.

Many people think that the fares are a bit high. Thanh Vu from Tay Ho District said such prices would not encourage people to use the metro line, especially when the line currently does not connect to any network.

Nguyen Huong Mai from Ha Dong District said, "I think the prices should be adjusted to be more reasonable. We have to look into the long-term investment instead of hoping for immediate profits."

However, Vu Hong Tuong, director of Hanoi Metro Company said the fares were subsidised. The bus fare already cost VND7,000 to VND9,000.

Phan Le Binh, an infrastructure engineering lecturer from Vietnam-Japan University, also thinks that the fares were not higher than the bus fares since the passengers will pay the ticket based on distance. Binh said such prices were already subsidised and did not include a return on initial investment and operational costs.

According to the Minister of Transport, Nguyen Van The, they were completing procedures to transfer the project to Hanoi authorities as quickly as possible. It is estimated that all works will be completed this month so that the metro line can be opened for traffic in May. The French consultant company, ACT, also reviewed and assessed the project. ACT issued a certificate and report with 16 recommendations in January.

The ministry has urged the Railway Projects Management Board to quickly follow the recommendations and deal with the remaining shortcomings. Because of the scale of the project, responsibilities must be made clear between the investor, general contractor and Hanoi authorities.

Duong Duc Tuan, vice chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said they were fully prepared to receive and open the metro line.

Each train has four carriages that can carry 960 passengers and there will be a train every 10 minutes. The city authorities will also adjust the bus routes to better connect with the metro line.