The Ha Noi People’s Council has recently adopted a resolution piloting special mechanisms and policies for investment in five urban railway lines, establishing a legal framework and a basis for mobilising resources to accelerate implementation, with the aim of completing the lines in a coordinated manner by 2030.
A notable feature of the resolution is the introduction of an average contract value ceiling of 120 million USD per kilometre for underground sections, accompanied by mechanisms for auditing, cost control and contractor accountability for construction quality, progress and safety.
Commenting on the significance of the resolution in an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Hong Thai, Permanent Vice President of the Viet Nam Railway Transport Economics Association, affirmed that Ha Noi’s application of special mechanisms and prioritisation of resources for five urban railway lines during the 2026–2030 period is of strategic importance, helping accelerate the development of a modern transport network in the capital.
However, to ensure that these special policies prove effective in practice, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Hong Thai said the city needs to focus on three key issues:
First, removing institutional bottlenecks and accelerating decentralisation and delegation of authority. Implementing five metro lines simultaneously requires proactive project preparation, capital allocation and streamlined procedures. However, greater decentralisation and delegation of authority must always be accompanied by accountability and strict controls over construction quality, costs and investment efficiency.
Second, prioritising site clearance ahead of construction. As urban railway lines pass through densely populated areas and complex technical infrastructure systems, compensation, support, resettlement and the handover of cleared sites for each line must be given top priority to avoid delays and additional costs while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of residents.
Third, linking metro development with transit-oriented development (TOD) and the railway industry. The city needs to ensure seamless connections between metro lines, buses and the wider public transport network, while effectively developing land around stations under the TOD model to generate financial resources. In particular, technology transfer must be accelerated to enable domestic enterprises to gradually participate more deeply in design, construction, equipment manufacturing and operations, with the aim of achieving greater self-reliance in the railway industry.
Following the adoption of the resolution, the Ha Noi People’s Committee is working urgently to finalise management procedures and clearly assign responsibilities among authorities at different levels and sectors, ensuring openness and transparency while regularly reporting to the municipal People’s Council for monitoring and supervision.
With special mechanisms accompanied by strict controls over costs, funding and construction quality, the coordinated implementation of the five urban railway lines is expected to bring about significant progress in transport infrastructure development, contributing to the goal of building a modern transport network for the capital by 2030.
Earlier, the Ha Noi People's Council officially adopted the resolution piloting special mechanisms and policies for investment in urban railway lines in the city, with 95 delegates voting in favour, accounting for 77.24% of all delegates.
The resolution applies to five lines, numbered 1, 2, 8, 10 and 14, which are expected to be completed by 2030. The specific project names and alignments will be determined in the 1:500-scale documentation on route plans and infrastructure locations approved by the municipal People's Committee, in accordance with the orientation of the Ha Noi Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision.
