$4.3M proposed for HCMC metro trial runs

In a document sent to the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways on the costs of trial runs for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, HURC1 said if it participates in the trial, it would be responsible for organizing and coordinating all activities on the construction site, per the terms of the bidding contract.

The VND110 billion would be spent on electricity bills, workers’ salaries, insurance and station equipment, among others. The company proposed that the city provide the fund from the national budget to the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways, the line’s main investor.

If the fund cannot be provided yet, the company proposes to take the money temporarily from the unit’s registered capital.

HURC1 is placed under the HCMC People's Committee and is fully state-funded. The company was formed in 2015 to prepare for the management and operation of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line. HCMC’s first urban railway, with a total investment cost of over VND43.7 trillion, spans 20 km from District 1 to Thu Duc City.

After 12 years of work, the line is now 98% completed and is expected to enter commercial operation later this year.