Most of the metro projects in HCMC remain on hold due to multiple obstacles, especially financial distress, so citizens have to wait at least five more years to take the first metro ride.
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Ten years ago, the feasibility studies for the first two metro lines of HCMC were put up for comments. Back then, people believed that the first urban railway would get off the ground in 2005 and start service in 2010, but reality proved them wrong.
The Metro Line No. 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien was the first to be carried out among the six projects chosen by the city. After kicking off on August 28, 2012, the project is now in the stage of geological exploration.
“We have also begun construction of the overhead section along Hanoi Highway. For the underground section from the central station near Ben Thanh Market to the City Opera House, the bidding procedures are being finalized,” said Le Khac Huynh, deputy head of HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).
Stretching 19.7 kilometers, including 2.6 kilometers underground, the Metro Line No. 1 with 14 stations will be financed by the official development assistance (ODA) of Japan.
On August 25, 2011, the Prime Minister gave the nod for the HCMC government to adjust the project, with ODA fund raised from US$1.09 billion to US$2.2 billion, or 88.4% of the total investment cost.
In addition, it was redefined that the project will be completed in 2017 and start operations in 2018.
The Metro Line No. 2 from Thu Thiem to An Suong Coach Station in District 12 with a total length of nearly 20 kilometers was the first to get going, with site leveling for Tham Luong Depot already begun on August 24, 2010. However, all that can be seen on the 22.3-hectare site now are fence, entrance and guard booth.
“The maintenance station is awaiting a contractor, then it will be built in line with the main packages,” Huynh said.
According to documents provided by MAUR, the design for the project was completed in late 2012. In the first quarter, MAUR will coordinate with the project consultant to issue bid invitation.
“The construction package will be given to the contractor in July, then the packages for equipment supply and installation... so that work will start on the underground section on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street later this year. All stages will be completed in December 2017, followed by a six-month trial run before the metro line starts official operations,” said Huynh.
Linking Thu Thiem New Urban in District 2 to the downtown District 1 and the western gateway of HCMC, the total investment cost of the Metro Line No. 2 is US$1.37 billion. Germany will provide the project with US$313 million of ODA through the German Development Bank (KfW), while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will give US$540 million and US$195 million respectively.
Apart from the above two projects, the Metro Line No. 5 connecting Saigon Bridge-Hanoi Highway with the new Can Giuoc Coach Station in District 8 has mobilized part of the US$1.85 billion needed. To be developed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) format, the first phase of this project, the 9-km section from Saigon Bridge to Bay Hien Intersection in Tan Binh District, will receive an ODA loan worth 500 million euros from Spain.
“However, as this loan only matches 40% of the expected sum, the HCMC government is still waiting to see if the World Bank (WB) will agree to finance about 190 million euros or not. In addition, the extended parts (in the second stage) from Ben Thanh to Thu Thiem and from Bay Hien Intersection to Can Giuoc Coach Station Bus Giuoc (14.5 kilometers long) are still awaiting funds,” said an expert of MAUR.
Together with other urban railway projects such as monorails and trams, preparations for the remaining metro projects are progressing slowly, mainly due to financial distress and difficulties in site clearance.
Regarding the Metro Line 4 stretching 22.6 kilometers from Nguyen Van Linh Street in District 7 to District 12, the municipal government has asked MAUR to extend this line to Hiep Phuoc Port Urban Area, so the study of the entire project can only be finished this year.
The 16-km Metro Line 3A from Ben Thanh to Tan Kien in Binh Chanh District and the 12-km Metro Line 3B from Cong Hoa Intersection to Hiep Binh Phuoc in Thu Duc District are being conceived. Meanwhile, the Metro Line No. 6 from Ba Queo to Phu Lam Intersection with a length of 6.7 kilometers is waiting for the consultant IDOM to complete the feasibility study with funding to be provided by the Spanish government.
