Hanoi is taking steps to become a modern and smart city and in this process, higher transport infrastructure capabilities, in which the construction of ring roads network would be the key prerequisite.

Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway line reached one million passengers two months after starting operation. Photo: Pham Hung

For the past years, the local authorities have been putting into operation several urban public works that help boost connectivity, reduce traffic congestion and support economic recovery.

Among them was the long-awaited Cat Linh – Ha Dong urban railway line that was inaugurated last December. Two months on, the ridership of the urban railway line reached the 1-million mark in mid-January.

Vice-Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan noted the Cat Linh – Ha Dong urban railway project has significant meaning to the capital city’s transport infrastructure.

“This is the first step to implement the urban railway planning until 2030,” said Tuan, adding the city’s urban railway network could stretch to the suburban Xuan Mai satellite city.

In addition, Hanoi is focusing on the completion of major transportation projects, including the ring road No.2; Vinh Tuy bridge; ring road No.3; overpasses at intersections of Nguyen Van Huyen – Hoang Quoc Viet, An Duong – Thanh Nien; road connecting ring road No.3 to Hanoi-Haiphong expressway.

“These projects would transform Hanoi’s public transport infrastructure system and create the driving force for socio-economic growth,” he said.

Major plans in 2022

In 2022, Hanoi is scheduled to complete key projects that would have significant impacts on the city’s development.

Among them, the pilot running of the urban railway line from Nhon to Hanoi station, and the first section of the Nhon-Hoang Mai urban railway with a length of 8.5 kilometers.

Le Van Luong underpass whose construction started in October 2020 with total investment capital of nearly VND700 billion ($30.7 million), is set to complete in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, the Vinh Tuy 2 bridge with investment capital of over VND2.5 trillion ($110 million), which is part of the ring road No.2, would help bolster the connectivity between the two sides of Red River and meet the growing transportation demand between the city’s downtown areas and the northern region.

Another key project is ring road No.4 which is set to serve as the growth driver for the less developed South of Hanoi.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Transportation Vu Van Vien said as part of the efforts to enhance state governance capabilities in the transportation sector, the agency would focus on accelerating the construction progress of transport projects, including inter-provincial roads to boost the development of the Hanoi metropolitan area.