HCMC's Metro Line 1 may extend to Dong Nai and Binh Duong

                                                               Photo: Duc Anh

Japan assisting city in research on extending line to neighboring provinces.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has recently agreed to support Ho Chi Minh City in conducting research on lengthening Metro Line No. 1 from the city to neighboring Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces.

“METI has only approved assisting the research stage of the project, not financial support for construction as yet,” a representative from Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Board of Urban Railways (MBUR) confirmed with VET.

MBUR and a group with METI consisting of the Nippon Koei Company Limited and the Tokyu Corporation have proposed a detailed plan for the extension to Binh Duong and Dong Nai.

From Suoi Tien station the extra line of around 2 km would be built to the provinces’ borders and an interchange station constructed.

From this interchange station, a metro line to Binh Duong would be built under two options. The first is for the metro line to follow the My Phuoc - Tan Van Road to Di An town and the second is that it passes through the central area of Di An town.

Similarly, from the interchange station, a metro line to Dong Nai would also be built under two options. The first is for it to go through Hiep Hoa Islet to the center of Bien Hoa city and second is that it goes to the Vung Tau T-junction.

The Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee has previously proposed the Ministry of Transport and Ho Chi Minh City connect the metro line to the Vung Tau intersection (on National Highway 1), with a length of about 4.7 km.

The province has set aside the land for the line and the stations through the Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Zone. Little site clearance would be required. The Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee has proposed the extension to Binh Duong, of about 1.8 km.

Metro Line No. 1 is to currently stretch from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9 with financial support from Japanese ODA.

In related news, in mid-October the MBUR submitted a proposal to the city’s People’s Committee on the construction and investment policy for the first stage of Metro Line No. 5, from Bay Hien intersection in Tan Binh district to Saigon Bridge in Binh Thanh district.

The project has received capital commitments from a number of investors, of around $1.87 billion. Capital is coming from the Spanish Government, with $328 million, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) $567 million, the European Investment Bank (EIB) $179 million, and the German Development Bank (KfW) $239 million. The remainder will be in reciprocal capital from the government.

by Khanh Chi / VET