This is part of a project with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to improve traffic safety.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, Tsuno Motonori, Chief Representative of JICA in Vietnam, said that the project aims to increase traffic safety on streets, minimise accidents involving pedestrians and control traffic order along main roads in Hanoi.

Mr Motonori added that 10 years ago, JICA provided loans for Hanoi to develop its transport infrastructure and to improve traffic conditions at crossroads where traffic jams often occur like the Vong and Nga Tu So intersections and the Kim Lien Tunnel. He expressed his hope that with close co-operation between Vietnam and Japan, Hanoi will develop comprehensively, including the traffic, so that children will be safe going to school.