THREE new metro lines, with an investment value of over $US 5bn, are planned in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. According to local media outlet Vietnamnet Global, the new lines will follow on from Lines 1 and 2, which are currently under construction.
The new metro lines are:
- Line 2 Phase 2, 6km
- Line 3a, 11km, and
- Line 5 Phase 1, 9km.
The second phase of Line 2 will extend to the new district of Thu Thiem. Construction of the first phase started earlier this year, with completion expected by 2030. Phase 2 will cost approximately $US 1.3 bn, which is expected to come from Korean government loans.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (Maur) has been working with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Kexim) to provide technical support documents that will enable Maur to access non-refundable finance later this year.
Line 3a will have 11 underground stations and is expected to cost more than $US 2bn, with finance expected to be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). Maur and Jica reportedly discussed new financing options during a meeting last month. The line is still awaiting approval, originally submitted in 2016, from the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Line 5 includes a 7.5km underground section and is expected to cost more than $US 1.7bn. Financing is expected from a variety of sources, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and German federal development bank (KfW).
According to Maur, a feasibility study has been submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, along with cost-approved plans for independent project analysis.
Further metro lines are proposed in Ho Chi Minh City, including Lines 2 (Phase 3), 3b, 4, 5 (Phase 2) and 6, as well as a light rail line and two monorail routes.
Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line, the much-delayed Line 1, is finally due to open later this year.
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