HCMC – The completion of Metro line No.2 connecting Ben Thanh Market and Tham Luong Depot has been proposed to be extended from 2026 until 2032, reported the local media.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment sent an official dispatch to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on the adjustment of the completion date of the HCMC Metro line No. 2 or Ben Thanh – Tham Luong Metro line project.
The minister proposed the deputy prime minister approve the adjustment on the investment policy for the project, including rescheduling the project implementation and completion date till 2030, excluding two years of defect repairing and maintenance, instead of 2010-2026 as planned.
Under the proposal, the HCMC authorities are requested to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and sponsors to resolve issues relating to loan agreements of the project and take responsibility before the prime minister for removing hindrances to the execution of the project, supervising and completing the project within the proposed time limit.
“In case the project fails to meet the approved schedule, the HCMC authorities will be responsible for arranging other sources of funding for the project’s outstanding categories,” proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
In early July 2022, the HCMC People’s Committee sent a written document to the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposing its report to the prime minister on the adjustment of the implementation schedule of the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong Metro line.
The reasons for the project delay were regulatory bottlenecks on land revocation and bidding, agreements on the arising work items, and unilateral termination of the contract by the consultant, according to the authorities.
Metro line No. 2, with nine underground, one elevated station, and one depot, needs an investment cost of VND47,890.84 billion, equivalent to US$2,093.59 million.
