Hanoi’s vital transport projects suspended to curb Covid-19 spread

Vital transport projects in Hanoi have been suspended until April 15 with a view to curbing mass gatherings and preventing Covid-19 from spreading.

Construction of Hanoi’s vital transport projects, including the Nhon – Hanoi Station sky train and the viaduct of Ring Road 2, has been temporarily stopped following the government directive on enhancing social distancing, VnExpress reported.

Those works have been suspended until April 15 with a view to curbing mass gatherings and containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

A section of the Nhon – Hanoi Station metro project on Kim Ma Street on April 2. Photo: VNE

Currently, no workers are seen on the construction site of the Nhon – Hanoi Station sky train but only a dozen of machines which are gathered in one place and covered. Before Hanoi entered social distancing, around a thousand workers and experts were present at the site day and night. After 10 years, the project's underground sections are still being dug.

The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board said that the resumption of works depends on the Covid-19 evolution.

Similarly, the construction site of Viaduct of Ring Road 2 is empty as workers have 15 days off though the viaduct is expected to be inaugurated at the end of this year.

Works on the Ring Road 3 viaduct project from Mai Dich overpass Thang Long bridge are still underway, however only a dozen of workers are seen on their site.

Pham Anh Tu, head of Project Management Department 1 under Ministry of Transport, explained that this is a key project, and needs to be completed as the earnest time possible. However, workers have to comply with preventive measures such as body temperature check, hand sanitization and use of face masks.

Some 90% of the project has been completed and it is expected to be inaugurated and opened to traffic by the year-end.

As of April 3, Vietnam has recorded 233 Covid-19 patients, of which 75 have been cured and discharged from hospital. Hanoi reported 105 active coronavirus-infected cases, the largest number in the country.