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| The underground station C9, part of Hà Nội’s urban railway line No 2 connecting Bắc Từ Liêm District to Hoàn Kiếm District, will not harm the historical sites surrounding Hoàn Kiếm Lake.—Photo zing.vn |
HÀ NỘI — The underground station C9, part of Hà Nội’s urban railway line No 2 connecting Bắc Từ Liêm District to Hoàn Kiếm District, will not harm the historical sites surrounding Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung addressed concerns over the historical sites in his recent report sent to Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. The report presents a detailed design of the station.
The report said the station and the tunnel are not located within the most regulated heritage protection zone.
The tunnel will run underneath Bà Kiệu Temple, one metre from the foot of Bút Tower. Its ceiling will be 12.3m below the ground while its floor will be at a depth of 18.8m.
According to the heritage law, areas designated as heritage protection Zone One surround historical structures and any construction is prohibited. Inside Zone Two, facilities that promote the cultural values of historical sites may be constructed.
The proposed location of the station is inside Zone Two, so its construction does not violate the law on heritage.
Chung said construction would use the most advanced technologies to preserve historic Hoàn Kiếm (Returned Sword) Lake and other surrounding historical sites. “Building the station tunnel will not destroy the landscape of the monument or exchange the lake for the development of public transit,” he said.
Chung also said it represented a shift towards a modern public transport system that would help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
The People’s Committee asked the Prime Minister to approve the project quickly so construction could begin as scheduled.
Hà Nội Urban Railway No 2 is primarily funded by Japan’s Official Development Assistance. Construction is planned to begin in 2020 and finish in 2024. It will span 11.5km, including an 8.5km section running underground, beneath the Old Quarter.
It will run through five districts (Bắc Từ Liêm, Tây Hồ, Cầu Giấy, Ba Đình and Hoàn Kiếm) with three aboveground terminals and seven underground ones. — VNS
