Work on HCMC’s 2nd metro line set for December
Construction for Ho Chi Minh City’s second metro line, the Ben Thanh – Tham Luong route, is set to begin in December, as the city aims to expand its metro network to 335 kilometers over the next decade.
According to a recent draft plan submitted by the Department of Transport to the city’s government, the technical design and feasibility study for the project are expected to be completed by mid-year for review.
This follows the approval of Resolution 188 by the National Assembly, which allows the city to implement special mechanisms and policies to accelerate the project.
The draft plan said the city would approve the feasibility study in September, select contractors, and commence construction in December.
The Ben Thanh – Tham Luong metro project has an investment of nearly VND47.9 trillion (US$2 billion) and will be the city’s second metro line after the opening of Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien line last year.
The second line will stretch over 11 kilometers, with 9.2 kilometers underground and the remaining sections elevated, including the depot access road. It will pass through six districts: District 1, District 3, District 10, District 12, Tan Binh, and Tan Phu, linking the city center to the northwest gateway.
Approved more than a decade ago, the project has undergone several adjustments. Originally planned to be funded by official development assistance, the city has recently opted to use its own budget for the project. Additionally, new mechanisms will be piloted to streamline the execution process.
Land clearance for the project is mostly complete, and infrastructure relocation (electricity, water, telecommunications, etc.) is underway to prepare for the main construction packages.
HCMC aims to have 355 kilometers of metro lines by 2035, with a projected network of 510 kilometers by 2045.
Upcoming lines will focus on expanding underground sections to reduce compensation costs, accelerate construction, and maximize the use of underground space, in line with the city’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model.
By Gia Minh – VnExpress.net – March 3, 2025