Previously, Ho Chi Minh City planned to start the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro project on the occasion of the September 2nd holiday.
However, according to the latest plan of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on organizing the inauguration and commencement of projects to celebrate the 81st anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2026), this project is not on the list of projects to start construction this occasion.
This is the second time the project has missed the groundbreaking ceremony. Previously, Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro was also expected to start construction on July 2nd, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Saigon - Gia Dinh City honorably named after President Ho Chi Minh.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the project cannot start construction on September 2 due to incomplete procedures. Specialized agencies are appraising dossiers and summarizing opinions from agencies and experts.
The Department of Finance coordinates with investors and ministries and sectors to select appraisal consultants. After completion, investors will carry out licensing procedures for foreign contractors.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinates with investors to appraise the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report. The appraisal council has been established and consolidated but has not yet held a meeting.
A major obstacle is that the project has not selected a foreign appraisal consultant, making the mid-term appraisal report on the route plan, project location, technology, standards and applied standards unable to be completed. According to regulations, this report must be approved before completion, appraisal and approval of the final report of the Feasibility Study Report, directly affecting the project progress.
In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the investor are reviewing the counterpart land fund to report to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and submit it to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council for approval.
Technical contents related to Thu Thiem and Long Thanh airport terminals also need to continue to coordinate with ministries, branches and Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee.
Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro is about 46.44 km long, from the east of Thu Thiem station belonging to the Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem line, Binh Trung ward, Ho Chi Minh City, to Cam Duong depot, Xuan Duong commune, Dong Nai province.
The route has about 11 km underground, 34.5 km elevated, the rest on land and the transition section.
The entire route is expected to have 18 stations, including 16 elevated stations and 2 underground stations, not including Thu Thiem station. Phase 1 will build 14 stations first, including 6 stations in Ho Chi Minh City and 8 stations in Dong Nai.
The route runs along major traffic corridors such as expressways, Ring Road 3 and connects with 6 other railway lines, creating a large volume transport axis between the center of Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh airport.
According to the design, the metro has a maximum capacity of nearly 47,000 passengers/hour, an average of more than 23,400 passengers/hour per direction. The train has a maximum design speed of 120 km/h, an operating speed of 80-110 km/h depending on the section.
Phase 1 has a preliminary total investment of about 134,169 billion VND, excluding site clearance costs. The project is expected to be implemented under a BT contract, the investor mobilizes capital and is paid by land fund combined with the state budget.
Expected to be completed in 2030, Thu Thiem - Long Thanh Metro will form a large volume transport axis, directly connecting the center of Ho Chi Minh City with Long Thanh airport.
