Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just issued Decision No. 388/QD-UBND approving the adjustment of Metro Line 1 project (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien), which adjusts the content on project implementation time as stipulated in Decision No. 2999/QD-UBND dated June 16, 2025 of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
According to the adjustment decision, the completion time of Metro Line No. 1 construction is determined to be the fourth quarter of 2026 (instead of the fourth quarter of 2025).
The completion time of the entire project remains unchanged from 2024 to 2028. In which, the time for notifying and overcoming defects (construction works warranty) of contractors is implemented from the end of 2024 to the end of 2026. Support for operation and maintenance of Metro Line No. 1 from 2024 to the end of 2028.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Authority (MAUR) to be fully responsible before the law and the City People's Committee for the completeness, truthfulness, and accuracy of the submitted dossiers and data for approval.
MAUR is responsible for organizing the project implementation in accordance with legal regulations, ensuring quality, efficiency and progress, completing all construction work in the fourth quarter of 2026, without allowing delays or prolongations.
The city requests MAUR to develop and organize the implementation of detailed plans for the remaining items, clearly establish the responsibilities of each related unit, along with appropriate measures and sanctions. At the same time, proactively identify potential risks, promptly remove difficulties and obstacles arising in the project implementation process.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also emphasized the requirement to strengthen management and control of costs, not allowing costs arising due to adjusting project implementation time.
MAUR is also assigned to preside over and urgently coordinate with relevant agencies and units to definitively resolve contractor complaints and obstacles, ensuring that it does not affect the overall progress and efficiency of the project.
Regarding capital sources, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requests MAUR to closely coordinate with the Department of Finance and relevant agencies to ensure capital sources for project implementation, proactively develop financial risk prevention solutions. MAUR will be fully responsible to the City People's Committee if the project continues to be delayed compared to the approved milestone.
Metro Line 1 is the first urban railway line of Ho Chi Minh City, nearly 20 km long, connecting the city center with the eastern gateway.
The route officially put into operation from December 21, 2024 and quickly attracted a large number of people to use, with an average traffic volume of more than 60,000 visitors per day.
To date, the route has served more than 20 million passengers, contributing to reducing road traffic pressure and gradually forming a habit of using public transport in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to MAUR, the continued adjustment of the implementation time of Metro Line 1 project is mainly due to difficulties in mobilizing personnel and importing equipment from contractors; some technical defects of package CP3 have not been thoroughly overcome (related to signal systems, vibration boxes, consumables, AFC systems...), while complaints arising with Hitachi contractors have not yet reached a consensus on a handling plan.
In addition, the contents of complaints have lasted for many years, are complex and difficult to resolve in a short time; maintaining operational consulting services, personnel training and additional procurement of consumption materials in 2026 is necessary to ensure Metro Line 1 operates safely, stably and effectively.
According to MAUR, all items to be continued are within the scope of tasks signed in the contract, belonging to the remaining acceptance and payment part of the project and do not incur costs, do not change the approved total investment.
