An elevated section of HCM City’s Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line running along the Hanoi Highway (Photo: VNA)HCMCity (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City's authorities have pledged to helpcontractors speed up work on the first metro line between Ben Thanh Market in district 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in district 9 so that it can be completedby the end of next year.
Speaking at a meeting on February 5, Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the much-awaited metro has been long delayed due to ashortage of funds and issues related to land acquisition.
The project is expected to be 85 percent complete this year, he said. “A jointeffort is needed between the Japanese and the city governments to achieve theresult.
“The contractors, design consultants and workers all play a role in speeding upthe progress.
“The city will strive to ensure the project is completed by 2021or even earlier,” he said.
Bui Xuan Cuong, head of the HCM City Management Board of Urban Railway (MAUR),said the target is to complete 85 percent of the work this year and fully doneby the end of next year.
Recently, the People’s Committee decided to reduce the cost of the metro by 3.4 trillionVND (146.8 million USD) after a review of all its related costs.
Hoan assured the cost cut would not affect the project quality.
The city has advanced 1.7 trillion VND to the contractors,construction units and workers so that the work could continue. The line is the first of the city’s eight proposed routes.
It comprises four main packages and is funded in part through anofficial development assistance loan from the Japan InternationalCooperation Agency.
Since construction began in 2012, it has faced a multitude ofproblems, including slow funds disbursement and a personnel crisis.
It will run 20 kilometres through districts 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh,and Thu Duc and the neighbouring Binh Duong province./.
VNA
