Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong: Expectations for a landmark project by Vietnamese people.

At the Cong Truong Dan Chu roundabout, numerous barricades have been erected to facilitate the construction of Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong - Photo: TRI DUC

According to Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong has a length of 11.3km. Starting from Ben Thanh central station, the line runs along Cach Mang Thang Tam Street and Truong Chinh Street, with the project's end point in this phase being Tan Binh station.

These routes consistently experience very high traffic volumes, putting an overload on the road transport infrastructure.

Mr. Phan Cong Bang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (far right) - at the groundbreaking ceremony for Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong - Photo: LE PHAN

In its urban rail development plan, Ho Chi Minh City has identified the construction of an interconnected and synchronized metro network; in which lines converge in the central area and radiate outwards towards the city's development directions.

Metro Line 2 is positioned as a crucial radial axis, connecting the center of Ho Chi Minh City with the Northwest region, contributing to the gradual organization of urban space and the sustainable development of public transportation.

"We highly appreciate and thank the close cooperation of the departments, agencies, and localities. In particular, the Department of Transport (now the Department of Construction) has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the Urban Railway Management Board, closely monitoring the progress and implementation plan of the project."

"I would also like to thank the people in the project area for their understanding and support – those who have been and are being directly affected during the implementation process," Mr. Bang said.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Metro Line 2 project - Photo: LE PHAN

At the groundbreaking ceremony on January 15th, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong instructed that, in addition to high technical and quality requirements, Metro Line 2 will pass through major roads and central wards of the city. Therefore, he requested the investor and contractors to implement the project on schedule, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency, with the goal of completion by 2030.

On behalf of the Ho Chi Minh City leadership, Mr. Cuong requested the Urban Railway Management Board, contractors, design consultants, supervision consultants, and construction contractors to implement the project with the highest level of focus and responsibility, ensuring quality, progress, strict adherence to technical standards and regulations on investment and construction, and especially focusing on environmental protection, labor safety, traffic safety, and social welfare for people in the project area.

Some construction workers are working at Bay Hien station, part of the Metro Line 2 project, on the morning of January 15th - Photo: TRI DUC

Departments and agencies should focus on implementing procedures for the preparation, appraisal, and approval of urban planning; investment and construction to minimize the time required for related procedures under the city's responsibility, in order to accelerate the progress of Metro Line 2 and other urban development and infrastructure projects.

The local authorities in the wards where the project passes through continue to focus on leadership and direction, promoting public awareness and mobilization to create high consensus during the project implementation. At the same time, they strengthen coordination and community supervision, proactively resolving difficulties and obstacles within their authority, ensuring that the overall progress of the project is not affected.

The route and stations of Metro Line 2 - Graphic: Tuan Anh

"Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong is a project to express gratitude to Ho Chi Minh City."

Mr. Tran Ba Duong - Chairman and General Director of THACO , the EPC general contractor - shared that he personally views participating in the Metro Line 2 project as a way of showing gratitude and giving back to Ho Chi Minh City - the place where he studied, lived, and achieved certain successes over the past 48 years.

THACO and Mr. Duong personally pledge to the leaders, people of Ho Chi Minh City, and esteemed partners participating in the project that they will focus and make every effort towards the sole objective of ensuring the project's comprehensive and sustainable success.

Metro Line 2 Ben Thanh - Tham Luong: Expectations for a landmark project by Vietnamese people - Photo 2.