Passengers in Cát Linh Station of Cát Linh-Hà Đông urban railway. Photo kintedothi.vn

HÀ NỘI – The Hà Nội Department of Transport has just submitted an investment proposal and a pre-feasibility study report on a project to build a tunnel connecting two urban railway lines, No 2A and line No 3.

The proposal is contained within the departmental report to the Hà Nội People's Committee, along with pre-feasibility study reports of ten other transport projects that are being planned for the city.

Among dozens of important transport projects aiming to reduce congestion and radically change the appearance of the capital's transport infrastructure, there is a project to build a tunnel connecting the Cát Linh-Hà Đông (at Cát Linh Station) and Nhổn- Hà Nội Train Station (at S10 Station) urban railway lines.

The department proposes building tunnels for pedestrians and a transfer hub, with two connection directions at Cát Linh elevated station of Line 2A and underground station S10 of Line 3) within the red line boundary in Ba Đình and Đống Đa districts.

At Cát Linh Station the design includes stairs, escalators and elevators, while passengers going from Station S10 will travel to the transfer floor.

The total investment of the tunnel project is estimated VNĐ113 billion (US$4.5 million) while construction of a tunnel connecting the two urban railway lines will make it more convenient for people to use the trains.

This is also a way to get more people to use the urban railways, reducing traffic volumes and better protect the environment.

Traffic projects that will be implemented in the near future include building Ngọc Hồi Bridge and roads at both ends of the bridge located on Ring Road 3.5; renovating and expanding the elevated and low sections of Belt Road No. 2; renovating and upgrading Sơn Tây-Hoà Lạc-Xuân Mai section on the National Highway 21, building a route to connect Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge with Nguyễn Văn Linh Street; constructing the underpasses on Hoàng Quốc Việt Street connecting to Phạm Văn Đồng Street and Trần Vĩ street, at the intersection of West Thăng Long - Ring Road 3 and at the intersection of Mễ Trì - Dương Đình Nghệ - Ring Road 3; and building a flyover on Lê Trọng Tấn Street and National Highway 6. VNS