Ha Noi to build 14 urban railway lines
VGP - Ha Noi targets to build 14 urban railway lines totaling 550 kilometers as part of its recently updated transportation planning. The urban railway system will serve as the "backbone" of the city's urban transport.
Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan shared the view during a meeting between the city's leaders and an inspection delegation from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to discuss Ha Noi's transportation situation during the 2009-2023 period on April 15.
Ha Noi will focus resources on completing seven-ring road projects and radial and regional roads. Additionally, the city aims to transition to green and clean transportation methods and increase the share of public passenger transport to approximately 30 percent by 2025-2026, Tuan continued.
Ha Noi passed Resolution 04 in 2017 to restrict motorcycles in urban districts by 2030. However, seven years later, implementing the resolution has proven challenging due to the low usage of public transportation. Studies have shown that restricting motorcycles would only be feasible when public transport usage reaches 30-50%, which is currently just 19.5 percent in Ha Noi.
"When Ha Noi completes its plan to build 400 kilometers of railway by 2035, only then will it be feasible to restrict motorcycles," said Tuan.
Tuan also noted that the city will replace the existing Kim Ma – Yen Nghia Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line with an urban railway.
"The BRT system is a precursor to the development of urban railways," said Tuan.
The 2011 master plan for the capital and the city's 2016 transportation plan envisaged eight BRT lines, but only one has been completed so far. However, this BRT line has significant limitations as it occupies one-third of the width of the Giang Vo - Lang Ha - Le Van Luong radial axis as a priority lane.
"The rapid bus system has turned into a regular, slow bus system. With adjustments to the general plan for transport, the city will replace the Kim Ma - Yen Nghia BRT line with Urban Railway Line 11," said Tuan.
The 01 Kim Ma - Yen Nghia BRT Line was inaugurated in December 2016 with a total investment of over US$55 million. The line stretches over 14 km and operates 55 buses with an 80-seat capacity, each costing over VND5 billion (US$200,000).
The project was funded by a loan from the World Bank to reduce congestion and pollution and lay the foundation for the development of public transportation infrastructure./.
