Though Hanoi officials recently approved the inclusion of a metro station near Hoan Kiem Lake, not everyone in the capital is happy about it.
The past week not only saw Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc formalize the agreement to borrow an additional US$251 million from China for Hanoi’s metro project but also finalized the municipal government’s greenlight for a Hoan Kiem station on Hanoi’s Metro Line 2.
According to Tuoi Tre, Terminal C9, the station planned near Hoan Kiem, will have a total of four entrances: the first located on the premises of EVN Hanoi, the second near EVN Northern Power Corporation, the third adjacent to Hoan Kiem Lake and the fourth behind the Ba Kieu Temple.
However the location of these entrances is a particular bone of contention among local experts and architects, who argue the last two entrances would compromise Hoan Kiem’s natural beauty. The city government also places certain restrictions on construction near the downtown lake in order to minimize any impact on the historical site.
“I believe there should be no big construction around Hoan Kiem Lake,” former Deputy Chairman Ngo Doan Duc of the Vietnam Association of Architects told the news outlet. He added: “The subway entrance must be located where it is most convenient for passengers, but at the same time leave no impact on Hoan Kiem Lake.”
Regarding the entrance behind Ba Kieu Temple, Luu Xuan Hung, deputy head of the management board of Hanoi’s urban railway project was quoted as saying: “Construction is prohibited near the temple but the subway project is meant for public use, so we may be able to build the entrance with approval from the ministry.”
Leaders of the Hanoi urban railway project will meet with officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism next week to discuss the issue and potentially receive approval for the construction of these two entrances to Terminal C9.
In related news, Hoan Kiem District officials recently submitted a proposal to expand Hanoi’s pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake.
[Rendering via Systra]
