HCMC aims to complete 3 metro lines before 2030

Mai Thanh Tung, deputy head of the Planning and Investment Division at the municipal Department of Construction, said at a press briefing on economic and social developments on Thursday that the city is simultaneously advancing several major urban and national railway projects.

For Metro Line No. 2, the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong section is finalizing project-adjustment procedures and is slated to break ground next January, while the Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem segment is under study for the 2025-2030 period.

Regarding the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line, the final pre-feasibility report has been completed, and HCMC has been designated as the lead agency. The city is also coordinating with neighboring Dong Nai province on necessary procedures as the route spans both localities.

Given constrained central and local funding, the city views mobilizing private capital as essential. Tung said several companies have expressed interest, including Thaco Group, which has proposed investing in the Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem and Thu Thiem-Long Thanh lines under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The city has tasked specialized agencies with reviewing the proposal.

The delay on Metro Line No. 1 was attributed to conditions attached to ODA loans, disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of adopting metro technology for the first time.

Drawing lessons from that experience, the city has developed special mechanisms to increase autonomy in project approval and management. The National Assembly has also approved a resolution to pilot several special mechanisms and policies to develop the urban railway network in Hanoi and HCMC, allowing the application of breakthrough measures such as contractor appointment and greater delegation of power to the municipal People’s Committee in approving projects and adjusting designs and total investment levels.

Tung noted that executing three major metro lines simultaneously will inevitably create pressure on timelines, financing and coordination across sectors and provinces. Still, special mechanisms under the new resolution and the 2025 Railway Law will enable the city to streamline investment-preparation processes, accelerate contractor selection and resolve procedural bottlenecks.

He added that the city is also developing frameworks to mobilize resources through the PPP model and facilitate transit-oriented development around stations to attract private-sector financing.