FECON OFFICIALLY OPERATES TBM “TAO BAO”, ACCELERATING TUNNELING PROGRESS FOR METRO LINE 3 PROJECT – HANOI

On February 3, 2025, FECON Corporation, in collaboration with the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) and the Hyundai - Ghella Joint Venture (HGU), officially launched the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named "Tao Bao," for the underground section of the Nhon – Hanoi Station urban railway pilot project (Metro Line 3).

Previously, TBM 1, named "Than Toc," began drilling at the end of July 2024. Currently, it has completed 985 meters of tunneling.

Like TBM 1, TBM 2 starts operating from S9 Station (Kim Ma) at a depth of 17.8 meters. The TBM 2 will accelerate to a standard speed of about 10 m/day to reach the next stations.

According to the plan, the total duration from the commencement of TBM 1 to the completion of TBM 2 is 16 months. Upon reaching S12 Station, the TBMs will be dismantled, and the auxiliary equipment system will be pulled back and dismantled at S9 - Kim Ma Station.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao, Deputy General Director of FECON, stated: "FECON has meticulously prepared all necessary resources, including materials, equipment, technical expertise, and workforce, while also conducting thorough safety and technical assessments to ensure the successful operation of TBM 2 following the project schedule. By concentrating our efforts, we aim to collaborate closely with all parties to maintain the tunneling progress, contributing to the project's timely completion." 

The operation of TBM 2 marks a significant milestone and serves as a great encouragement for FECON and the entire project. 

As a subcontractor directly operating the tunnel drilling by TBM, in addition to the experience accumulated and learned from the Ho Chi Minh City - Metro Line 1 Project (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien), at the Hanoi urban railway pilot project, Nhon - Hanoi station section, FECON subcontractor has technical support from the team of experts from Tunnel Pro, a leading TBM construction unit from Italy and a team of experts from the International Underground Construction Association. 

To ensure adherence to the project timeline, FECON has proactively allocated resources and implemented continuous work schedules, including during holidays and the Lunar New Year. During the recent Tet holiday, FECON’s project management team deployed over 15 engineers and workers, working in three shifts across four teams, to expedite construction progress and keep the project on track.

As of now, the overall construction progress of Package CP03 – Tunnels and Underground Stations has reached 53.46%. Specifically, the underground access ramp is 75.66% complete, Station S9 is 50.48% complete, and the ventilation shaft has reached 24.09% completion.

Throughout the construction process, FECON has worked closely with experts, the general contractor, and consultants, employing a geotechnical monitoring system to track and monitor ground movement and subsidence. Tunneling operations are carried out with utmost caution and strict supervision to ensure the safety of existing structures and maintain the quality of the works under construction.

The underground section is expected to be completed by 2027, after which the entire urban railway Line No. 3, Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station section, will be operational. This will transform the urban traffic landscape of the capital, improve connectivity between areas, and promote green, sustainable development.