Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visits Nhổn depot area in Bắc Từ Liêm District in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính conducted a field inspection on the Nhổn - Hà Nội Station metro line yesterday, underlining the need to avoid further delays and follow the planned schedule.

The PM paid a visit to the underground construction of S9 Station on Kim Mã Street and rode on the route from S8 Station at the University of Transport and Communications to the depot area in Bắc Từ Liêm District.

Speaking to contractors and investors during the trip, PM Chính listened to challenges to the progress and solutions to address these issues.

He also required stakeholders to make full efforts to meet the planned schedule, saying that there is no reason for delays as the capital has been fully allocated.

Following the field visit, PM Chính chaired a meeting at the Government headquarters, which addressed the current obstacles relating to the Nhổn - Hà Nội Station urban railway line.

The project spans 12.5 kilometres with a total capital of VNĐ32 trillion (US$1.4 billion) and was set to be completed in 2015.

The meeting aims to pinpoint problems, responsibilities and issues related to funding and implementation, as the PM said the project could not be delayed any further.

PM Chính suggested forming a specialised working group for the metro line, while adding that lessons must be learnt for urban railway development in Hà Nội in the future.

PM Chính and Government delegation took a short trip on the elevated section of the Nhổn-Hà Nội Station metro line on Sunday. VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

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75 per cent completed

In the latest report on the project implementation, vice chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee Dương Đức Tuấn said that after 11 years of construction, all of the 10 bidding packages have been deployed, with the overall progress reaching approximately 75 per cent.

As of July this year, over VNĐ568 billion (US$24.3 million) of the project capital has been disbursed, equivalent to 17.2 per cent of the plan.

The capital city’s People’s Committee also expressed concern over the delay in package CP05 of Hà Nội Construction Corporation (Hancorp), which has caused a significant impact to the progress of construction above ground, and other equipment packages.

CP05 is an important package that concerns the urban railway operation and maintenance, which includes the central transport management building, train storage, electrical engineering, and other ancillary construction.

Land clearance is also facing challenges, with the 4-kilometre construction affecting the foundation of 50 buildings in the area.

There have also been complaints and disputes due to differences between the FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) contracts and current Vietnamese laws.

Contractors for the CP03 package (underground stations and tunnels) have halted construction since August last year.

Vice chairman Tuấn said that in the working session between the city People’s Committee’s Chairman and project contractors, the committee has agreed to finish land clearance work and hand over the rest to contractors before October 15 this year.

The city will also make an advanced payment to a contractor for an implementation delay before August 28, negotiating appendices and following contract terms to resume construction the same month. — VNS

S9 Kim Mã Depot. VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

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PM Chính inspect the trains run at the S8 Cầu Giấy depot. VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

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