The Ministry of Transport handed over the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro project to Hanoi authorities for official operation on November 6.
The first metro line in Hanoi has finally been completed after 10 years of construction and four missed operational deadlines.
The Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro project was started in October 2011 with a total investment of more than VND18 trillion (USD782.6 million), using Chinese official development assistance. China Railway Sixth Group Co was the general contractor of the project.
Initially, the line was slated for completion by late 2017, but its official operation was delayed four times.
So far, 13 trains have received technical safety and environmental protection certification from the Vietnam Register and a certificate from the Vietnam Fire and Rescue Police Department. They have also been put into trial operation since last December.
Invested by the Transport Ministry, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line runs over 13 kilometres with 12 elevated stations from Cat Linh Ward in Dong Da District to Yen Nghia Ward in Ha Dong District.
The line has 13 trains with each four carriage-train capable of carrying over 900 passengers. The trains have a design speed of 80 kilometres per hour but the commercial running speed would be capped at an average of 35 kilometres per hour.
According to the vice chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, Duong Duc Tuan, the line will be officially put into operation from today, November 6 between 5 am-11 pm.
"The metro line plays a very important role in resolving the traffic problems in this densely-populated area," Tuan said. "It will help improve public transport quality in the capital city, especially with its high speed. Normally it takes some 45 minutes to travel from Cat Linh Ward in Dong Da District to Ha Dong District by motorbike or car, but travelling by metro would take only 20 minutes."
The official added that the line will be further developed to connect to Xuan Mai Town in the outlying district of Chuong My.
Cat Linh-Ha Dong is among eight urban railway projects in the transport development plan of Hanoi by 2030 with a vision to 2050.
