HCMC awaits central funds for metro line, to release advance to pay dues

The city will give the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), which manages the project, VND2.15 trillion ($91.78 million) to pay off dues, including payment for work already done by Japanese contractor Sumitomo Corporation.

This is the fifth time since 2017 the city will be making an advance payment. City authorities last week said the long-delayed metro line needs to be up and running in 2021 though the contractors were not sure.

The Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line runs 20 kilometers (12.43 miles) through districts 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh, and Thu Duc in HCMC and Di An District in the neighboring province of Binh Duong.

Work began in August 2012, and 63 percent has been completed so far.

An increase in its cost from VND17.4 trillion ($747.6 million) to VND47.3 trillion ($2 billion) was approved in January.