The costs of delay: Marginalization and sustainable development challenges around Hanoi's urban rail projects

Abstract

Existing studies on urban rail and transit-oriented development tend to emphasize their positive impacts on urban life, such as enhanced accessibility and increased property values. However, it remains unclear how prolonged delays in implementing urban rail projects affect communities, particularly through a sustainable development lens. This study offers a detailed analysis of the under-researched social issue of marginalization by drawing on the concepts of megaproject social responsibility and state-led infrastructure development. Our empirical investigation centres on an urban rail line in Hanoi, Vietnam, which has experienced prolonged construction and operational delays. Through in-depth interviews, we highlight the economic, social, and environmental hardships endured by affected residents during construction and delayed periods. The analysis reveals that households living near the rail stations have suffered substantial losses in income, safety concerns, deteriorating accessibility, and declining environmental quality due to prolonged construction activities. These adverse outcomes are attributed to infrastructure development strategies that have not prioritized citizen well-being. Despite ongoing public complaints, the persistent negative impacts of the rail projects remain unresolved, mainly due to the weak management and cooperation of the state. By examining the case of Hanoi's urban rail line, this paper provides an analytical framework to better understand the social consequences of urban development processes in Vietnam and, more broadly, in Global South contexts.