First HCMC metro line delayed until end-2023

The development of Metro Line 1, Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien, in Ho Chi Minh City is set to complete in the fourth quarter of next year, two years later than scheduled, city authorities said.

In a recent letter to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the municipal People’s Committee asked for approval to postpone the completion date.

The committee cited social distancing and lockdowns amid the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years as the reason for the delay.

Furthermore, many foreign specialists were unable to enter the country during the time, delaying the progress of some bidding packages, particularly for complex and highly technical components.

The failure to sign the appendix for one consultancy contract has also affected consulting work, staff training, and installation of information technology systems.

In addition, testing and appraising quality in line with international standards takes time as there are no similar standards in Vietnam, while preparations for certifying system safety face many changes in legislative requirements and guidelines from competent state bodies, city authorities wrote.

HCMC has nine metro projects in the works, including Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien) and Metro Line 2 (phase 1, Ben Thanh-Tham Luong) which are under construction. The city is preparing to build Metro Line 5, phase 1 (Bay Hien Intersection - Saigon Bridge), while the remaining routes are calling for investments.

Construction on the Metro Line 1 project began in 2012, with an initial investment capital of around VND17,388 billion ($757 million), which later increased to $1.9 billion.

The project spans about 20 kilometers, from Ben Thanh station in District 1 to Long Binh depot in Thu Duc city, including three underground and 11 elevated stations.