The Metro Line 1 project is currently 98% complete, but the payment ratio is very low, according to Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, at the meeting’s conclusion on the city’s socio-economic development results for April and the first four months of the year on the afternoon of May 3rd.
Mr. Phan Van Mai urged the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) to complete all documentation and procedures for making payments to the investor and to swiftly conduct trial operations and begin commercial operation of Metro Line 1 in 2024.
Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. (Photo: Press Center)
In addition, Mr. Mai requested that the units concentrate on implementing tasks related to adjusting the planning of major projects such as: Nguyen Khoi Bridge, Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, Can Gio Bridge, Ring Road 2, Moc Bai Expressway, etc.; implementing the idea of planning the Binh Quoi – Thanh Da area, the Historical and Cultural Park of the Nation; and effectively delegating planning authority to localities.
The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee requested that the initial steps of the HCMC urban railway project be completed and submitted to the Ministry of Transport; and the Prime Minister be briefed on the Ring Road 4 project. At the same time, finalize and submit to the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee a proposal for urban development connected to public transportation (TOD).
According to Mr. Mai, Ho Chi Minh City has identified 6 – 7 TOD implementation locations around Metro Lines 1 and 2 and Ring Road 3 for the period of 2024 – 2025. If concentrated, project tenders could be conducted by the end of 2025. In parallel, the city will review and implement the second phase from 2026 to 2028.
Ho Chi Minh City will continue to seek investment approval for the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai Expressway project and the Can Gio International Transshipment Port project; and finalize the international financial center project. On the other hand, the city will focus on implementing BOT and PPP projects in accordance with the National Assembly’s Resolution 98/2023 in the areas of transportation, healthcare, education, and culture – sports.
Mr. Mai also requested that the plan for constructing social housing be prioritized. The head of the Ho Chi Minh City government stated that the goal of constructing 35,000 social housing units during this term will be difficult to achieve, but he is striving to build 26,200 social housing units as directed by the Prime Minister.
Regarding administrative reform, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee requested that the city’s digital transformation implementation be linked to the continued implementation of tasks; the creation of databases; and the implementation of platforms such as the Citizen App, etc.
All departments, sectors, and localities must actively promote online applications and leverage the outcomes of Project 06 in the processing of administrative procedures, with the goal of establishing a digital foundation for the administrative system after 2025.
The Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien project has a total length of 19.7 km, including 2.6 km underground and 17.1 km elevated, with 14 stations, 3 underground stations, and 11 elevated stations.
The project will traverse the districts of 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc (Ho Chi Minh City), and Di An (Binh Duong). The total investment for the project is 43,700 billion VND.
