Expectations for Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 2

Readers expect Ho Chi Minh City's transportation infrastructure to continue developing strongly and significantly following the official commencement of construction on Metro Line 2.

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong) officially commenced construction on the morning of January 15th. Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), informed that Metro Line 2 is 11.3 km long, with a total investment of 55,179 billion VND, and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2030. The line starts from Ben Thanh central station, runs along Cach Mang Thang Tam and Truong Chinh streets, and ends at Tan Binh station in this phase.

Perspective view of Tan Binh station on Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line 2.

PHOTO: MAUR

According to Mr. Bang, these routes always have very high traffic volumes, overloading the road transport infrastructure system. Therefore, in the development plan for Ho Chi Minh City's urban railway, Metro Line 2 is positioned as an important radial axis, connecting the city center with the northwest area, contributing to the gradual organization of urban space and the sustainable development of public transport.

Metro Line 2 is the first project in Ho Chi Minh City to implement specific mechanisms and policies for urban railway development (Resolution No. 188). Based on this, MAUR has selected technology for the line according to European standards, which is considered advanced, modern, and widely applicable; ensuring consistency, avoiding technological conflicts between metro lines, and creating a foundation for the unified development of the network in the future.

Metro Line 2 is one of the key projects in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam .

A boost from public investment.

Upon receiving the official announcement of the commencement of construction on Metro Line 2 after several delays, the majority of Thanh Nien newspaper readers assessed that Ho Chi Minh City's decision to switch from ODA funding to public investment has helped shorten the process, creating conditions for proactive selection of contractors, technology, and implementation methods.

According to Truong Luu, "The decision to switch to public investment funding is an effective boost, a key to unlocking many previous investment obstacles. According to recent press reports, the project's capital was approved in 2010, but due to numerous problems, the project's progress has been repeatedly delayed."

Many investors also agreed that with the boost in public investment, the Metro Line 2 project will achieve construction progress as planned. Investor Minh Nghia stated: "Drawing lessons from Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) along with many breakthrough and streamlined mechanisms, I believe that Metro Line 2 will minimize construction time."

Concurring with this view, commentator Tran Thinh stated: "If Ho Chi Minh City's transportation infrastructure receives sufficient resources from the outset—financial, human, and material—then the construction time will be significantly shortened. We expect Ho Chi Minh City to develop strongly and exceptionally."

Don't delay or set back the progress.

Noting the current route that Metro Line 2 will take, Ms. Hoa Hoa expressed concern about the daily traffic pressure once the project is under construction: "During peak hours from morning to evening, people from surrounding areas going to the city center for work, taking their children to school... usually travel on the only main artery, Cach Mang Thang Tam Street. It's already tiring due to traffic jams, so it will be great to have Metro Line 2; it will surely be less difficult. Hopefully, the construction won't be prolonged or delayed."

Sharing the same thought, Mr. Phuc Lap noted: "With a length of over 11 km, an expected construction time of 5 years, and being a key project, if the construction units and project coordinators do not carefully consider traffic diversion and route planning options, the traffic pressure on the route from Tan Binh station to Ben Thanh market will not be simple. Hopefully, Ho Chi Minh City has a specific plan."

According to information from MAUR, in the initial phase of operation, Line 2 can carry 140,000 passengers per day, nearly three times the number of passengers currently using Line 1. Ho Chi Minh City aims to have public passenger transport by urban rail account for 20-30% of people's travel needs by 2030, 35-50% by 2035, and 50-60% by 2045.

"With the new mechanisms and the city's decisive actions, it is hoped that metro line 2 will progress on schedule or even ahead of schedule. However, during implementation, it is also necessary to learn from the experience of metro line 1 to avoid mistakes," commented Dung Le Viet.

* Every metro line is being built and completed on schedule, which is what the people hope for.

Dieu Hoang

* We request that you focus on completing this as quickly as possible, as this route is very important due to its narrow width, high population density, and already significant traffic pressure on a daily basis.

Ngo Cuong

* I noticed that going up and down from Ben Thanh station on metro line 1 to the underground station is very difficult and requires walking, as there are no elevators. I suggest that the underground stations on metro line 2 should have elevators or escalators.

Lieu

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ky-vong-tuyen-metro-so-2-tphcm-185260119191443341.htm