The 12.5km metro line, with total investment of US $1 billion, will stretch from Hà Nội’s Railway Station to in Hoàn Kiếm District to Nhổn in Từ Liêm District.
Statistics show that nine out of ten in Hà Nội travel use private vehicles as their primary means of transport. The city’s traffic system will be put under more pressure on a par with the current economic growth pace.
"If Hà Nội doesn't develop quality, high-volume public transportation systems the city will slowly grind to a standstill over the next decade," said Mr. Robert Valkovic, ADB's Principal Transport Specialist for Southeast Asia. "The metro is essential to Hà Nội’s future."
The rail line is scheduled to be completed in 2015. Over 150,000 people a day are expected to use it initially, with the number rising to almost half a million a day by 2030.
The ADB already approved a separate loan in support of a metro line in Hồ Chí Minh City earlier this year, bringing ADB's total support for urban metro rail development in Việt Nam to US $833 million.
VGP