A tunnel boring machine (TBM) in place at metro line Nhổn-Hà Nội Station. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — The construction of a 4km underground section of the Hà Nội urban railway line No.3 (Nhổn-Hà Nội Station) will commence after May 1, starting with work on four underground stations from Station 9 on Kim Mã to Station 12 at Hà Nội Station.

According to Lê Trung Hiếu, Vice Director of the Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB), tunnel boring machines (TBM) have been assembled and tested for digging work. The first TBM is to be handed over to the investor soon.

Hiếu said 20-45 technicians from the Republic of Korea, Italy and Fecon – a contractor of the project – will operate the machine.

With scheduled progress of 10m per day, in optimal conditions, the digging work for the 4km section will be complete in about 400 days, said Hiếu, adding that all safety standards will be ensured.

Hiếu said the second TBM is expected to be put into operation in June.

An 8.5km section of the urban railway line No.3 from Nhổn to Kim Mã (University of Transport) is scheduled to become operational late this year, while the 4km underground section is slated to be put into operation in late 2022. An additional 8km underground section is expected to be constructed from Hà Nội Station to Hà Nội’s southern district of Hoàng Mai.

The urban railway line No.3 has an investment of about VNĐ30.1 trillion (US$1.29 billion) from the official development assistance of the French Development Agency and loans from the French government.

The urban railway line No.3, connecting Nhổn and Hà Nội Station, will span 12.5km, running through six districts: Nam Từ Liêm, Bắc Từ Liêm, Cầu Giấy, Ba Đình, Đống Đa and Hoàn Kiếm. It will consist of 12 stations including eight elevated and four underground. — VNS