Developing metro systems in conjunction with sustainable urban development.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee recently organized a workshop on "Improving the Capacity to Implement Transport Orientation (TOD)" and a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Department for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development of the United Kingdom.

The information and lessons learned from TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) in Europe presented at the workshop provided insights for Ho Chi Minh City to promote sustainable and smart urban development. In particular, the formation of an urban rail (metro) network linked to an urban development model oriented towards public transport development is considered a strategic direction.

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line 1 is a vivid example. Immediately upon its opening, it demonstrated a clear positive impact. Many people readily abandoned their motorbikes and personal cars to switch to the metro due to its convenience, safety, and cost savings. This has profound significance: people are not "conservative" or "addicted" to motorbikes, as has long been considered a barrier to public transportation. The issue lies in the fact that public infrastructure has not been good enough to encourage people to choose it. Once the metro operates efficiently, habits will change, and a civilized and modern lifestyle will naturally emerge. In this context, it's necessary to frankly acknowledge that, besides prioritizing the transition from gasoline to electric vehicles to partially address emissions, a more fundamental solution is to quickly complete the metro system and seamlessly connect all public transportation options. This will significantly alleviate traffic congestion, transform the urban transportation structure, and transform Ho Chi Minh City's transportation system into a civilized, orderly, and efficient model.

Starting with just Metro Line 1, Ho Chi Minh City aims for 355km of urban railway by 2035. However, this comes with a massive investment – ​​approximately $44 billion USD, a significant amount for the budget. Lessons from countries in the region such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, and European countries show that building a metro system requires integration with TOD (Transit-Oriented Development). This involves not only constructing tracks but also replanning the space around the stations, creating compact urban areas, commercial centers, and housing. The increase in land value around the metro will generate substantial revenue for reinvestment in infrastructure.

Ho Chi Minh City has taken the right steps with its plan to develop 11 TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) zones across various wards and communes. If implemented synchronously and transparently, TOD will both solve the capital problem and open up new growth poles, easing pressure on the city center. However, that is not the only source of funding; building a metro system requires a diversified financial strategy. Firstly, foreign loans can offer significant support in terms of technology, experience, and preferential interest rates, but must be accompanied by management to avoid cost overruns. Secondly, strongly exploit the public-private partnership (PPP) model, allowing businesses to participate in investment in exchange for the right to commercially operate in station areas and service centers.

Thus, the prerequisite is that political will is already in place; the remaining issue is the need for clear policies to reassure businesses and encourage investment. Once funding is secured, the 355km metro network connecting modern TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) zones will not be too difficult to realize. At that point, Ho Chi Minh City will no longer be a city of congested motorbikes and thick smog during rush hour, but a civilized, green, and attractive metropolis. Therefore, the city must accelerate the metro project, considering it a crucial backbone for its transformation into a world-class megacity.

QUOC HUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phat-trien-metro-gan-do-thi-ben-vung-post815295.html