A rendered image of a 45,000-sq.m underground shopping mall under the Ben Thanh central station of city’s first metro line. (Photo courtesy of the Management Authority for Urban Railways)HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City authorities are developinga plan for design and construction of underground spaces around metro linestations as part of an effort to renovate its inner districts and developinfrastructure in the next five years.
Ly Khanh Tam Thao, head of the city Department of Planning and Architecture’sTechnical Infrastructure Management Department, said underground development isan important part of the city’s 2025 master plan adjustments.
“The city wants to create an underground space full of state-of-the-art publicfacilities to best serve its citizens,” he added.
Development of underground spaces will focus initially on the city’s centralarea, covering 930ha in districts 1 and 3, Binh Thanh district, and a part ofDistrict 4.
Underground areas, especially near metro stations and the Ben Thanh CentralStation, will be built and developed into commercial centres over a period ofyears, even after the metro lines are opened.
The 20km metro line No.1 will extend from Ben Thanh Market in central District1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9. It is expected to be operational inlate 2021. The line runs through districts 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc, andneighbouring Binh Duong province.
Museums and other cultural spaces, as well as other works such as drainage andflood prevention projects, will also be built in underground spaces, accordingto Thao.
The city has also planned for underground parking spaces, but nothing has beenput into use yet.
Delayed underground complex
The Ben Thanh underground trade complex, however, is likely to be delayedbecause it has not attracted investors, according to the Department of Planningand Investment.
The department said the 6.8 trillion VND (293.49 million USD) constructionwould not be done together with the first Ben Thanh underground station offirst metro line. As a result, the ground would have to be dug twice, possiblyaffecting the metro’s operation.
Approved in 2016, the underground complex was originally scheduled to befinished at the same time as the first metro line in 2021.
The city has assigned the Management Authority for Urban Railways to draw up aplan to execute the underground complex. It has also organised an internationalcontest to choose the best designs for the complex.
The Ben Thanh Central Station will be the hub of the city’s metro lines, wherethey will converge. The connections between the underground complex and themetro line will allow residents to enjoy both facilities in the same space.
The underground complex would be built on an area of 45,000 sq.m, starting fromthe Ben Thanh Central Station to the city’s Opera House. The commercial sectionwould make up 18,000 sq.m, while the remaining space would be reserved forunderground hallways and a public square.
Recommendations
Experts have recommended the city seek advice from foreign consultants on ideasfor planning, spatial design, and management regulations for the undergroundcomplex at the Ben Thanh Central Station.
The Department of Planning and Architecture will organise a forum to discussthe development of the underground space with experts, residents andbusinesses.
Hoang Tung, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Architecture,said that underground work would need a huge amount of investment and time,affecting water resources and the environment.
The plan must ensure an efficient use of land as well as compatible connectionswith existing structures on the ground, he said, adding that it must also meetthe requirements of underground water, security and defence.
Dr. Vo Kim Cuong, former director of the Department of Planning andArchitecture, said the core issue involved in the underground project would bethe locations of the construction work, which will depend on factors likegeology and water resources.
Geological and hydrological surveys and assessments, therefore, must be carriedout first.
Ha Ngoc Truong, vice chairman of the HCM City Road, Bridge and PortAssociation, a consultant for the city’s two metro lines, said most of thestations would be underground on the first metro line.
The scope of the research for underground planning, therefore, should not belimited to the downtown area and Thu Thiem new urban area, but should also bebased on metro stations in other districts as well, he said./.
Ly Khanh Tam Thao, head of the city Department of Planning and Architecture’sTechnical Infrastructure Management Department, said underground development isan important part of the city’s 2025 master plan adjustments.
“The city wants to create an underground space full of state-of-the-art publicfacilities to best serve its citizens,” he added.
Development of underground spaces will focus initially on the city’s centralarea, covering 930ha in districts 1 and 3, Binh Thanh district, and a part ofDistrict 4.
Underground areas, especially near metro stations and the Ben Thanh CentralStation, will be built and developed into commercial centres over a period ofyears, even after the metro lines are opened.
The 20km metro line No.1 will extend from Ben Thanh Market in central District1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9. It is expected to be operational inlate 2021. The line runs through districts 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc, andneighbouring Binh Duong province.
Museums and other cultural spaces, as well as other works such as drainage andflood prevention projects, will also be built in underground spaces, accordingto Thao.
The city has also planned for underground parking spaces, but nothing has beenput into use yet.
Delayed underground complex
The Ben Thanh underground trade complex, however, is likely to be delayedbecause it has not attracted investors, according to the Department of Planningand Investment.
The department said the 6.8 trillion VND (293.49 million USD) constructionwould not be done together with the first Ben Thanh underground station offirst metro line. As a result, the ground would have to be dug twice, possiblyaffecting the metro’s operation.
Approved in 2016, the underground complex was originally scheduled to befinished at the same time as the first metro line in 2021.
The city has assigned the Management Authority for Urban Railways to draw up aplan to execute the underground complex. It has also organised an internationalcontest to choose the best designs for the complex.
The Ben Thanh Central Station will be the hub of the city’s metro lines, wherethey will converge. The connections between the underground complex and themetro line will allow residents to enjoy both facilities in the same space.
The underground complex would be built on an area of 45,000 sq.m, starting fromthe Ben Thanh Central Station to the city’s Opera House. The commercial sectionwould make up 18,000 sq.m, while the remaining space would be reserved forunderground hallways and a public square.
Recommendations
Experts have recommended the city seek advice from foreign consultants on ideasfor planning, spatial design, and management regulations for the undergroundcomplex at the Ben Thanh Central Station.
The Department of Planning and Architecture will organise a forum to discussthe development of the underground space with experts, residents andbusinesses.
Hoang Tung, deputy director of the Department of Planning and Architecture,said that underground work would need a huge amount of investment and time,affecting water resources and the environment.
The plan must ensure an efficient use of land as well as compatible connectionswith existing structures on the ground, he said, adding that it must also meetthe requirements of underground water, security and defence.
Dr. Vo Kim Cuong, former director of the Department of Planning andArchitecture, said the core issue involved in the underground project would bethe locations of the construction work, which will depend on factors likegeology and water resources.
Geological and hydrological surveys and assessments, therefore, must be carriedout first.
Ha Ngoc Truong, vice chairman of the HCM City Road, Bridge and PortAssociation, a consultant for the city’s two metro lines, said most of thestations would be underground on the first metro line.
The scope of the research for underground planning, therefore, should not belimited to the downtown area and Thu Thiem new urban area, but should also bebased on metro stations in other districts as well, he said./.
VNA
