Hanoi plans to commence construction of two major urban railway projects this year, with Metro Line 2's Xuân Đỉnh depot scheduled to break ground in October 2025 and the entire Metro Line 5 targeted for groundbreaking before year-end.

On the afternoon of June 9, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh held a working session with the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) to review the progress of key metro projects.

At the meeting, MRB presented updates on Metro Line 2 (Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao) and Line 5 (Van Cao - Ngoc Khanh - Lang - Hoa Lac), as well as its plans to expand Hanoi’s metro network and integrate transit-oriented development (TOD).

For Metro Line 3 (Nhon - Hanoi Station), the elevated segment has been operational since August 2024. The underground section is currently 48.72% complete, with contractors pledging to finish both tunnels by December 2025.

For Metro Line 2, MRB resumed collaboration with Japanese consultants in February to finalize revised project documents, which are expected to be submitted for city approval by July 2025.

However, progress remains hindered by land clearance issues. While agricultural land has been cleared, 187 households at the Xuan Dinh depot site and 79 households affected by the extended Nguyen Van Huyen Street project still await compensation and resettlement, threatening the construction schedule for the elevated section.

Regarding Metro Line 5, the project is currently in the investment preparation phase, consisting of 10 consulting packages. One contract has been signed, and the remaining nine are in the final approval stages.

MRB is also preparing investment plans for 10 metro lines in 2025 and will proceed with the remaining lines in 2026.

Chairman Tran Sy Thanh underscored the critical importance of Hanoi’s metro system in building a modern, civilized, and sustainable capital city. He approved MRB’s timeline for breaking ground on the Xuân Đỉnh depot for Metro Line 2 in October 2025, with full construction starting in Q4 2026.

He also directed MRB to accelerate preparations for Metro Line 5 to ensure it begins construction within 2025, and to simultaneously implement a comprehensive urban railway development plan in alignment with National Assembly Resolution 188.

N. Huyen