ADB in US$ 293 million Vietnam metro loan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has loaned US$ 293 million to support a US$ 1 billion metro rail project in Vietnam's capital city, Ha Noi.

The 12.5 km-long east-west metro line will link Ha Noi's main railway station in Hoan Kiem district to Nhon, in the western Tu Liem district. It will feature 12 stations, with eight on the 8.4 km above-ground section of the track and four stations along 4 km of underground track.

Scheduled for completion in 2015, the project has also received € 73 million (US$ 103 million) funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French government.

The ADB said the capital's population is expected to grow from six to eight million people by 2025, and over 150000 people a day are expected to use the new metro line initially, with the number rising to almost half a million a day by 2030.