The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee wrote to the municipal People’s Council last week, proposing free rides on the first metro route for five passenger groups.

The inaugural line spans from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City. It will start commercial operations on December 22.

Free rides were proposed on November 21 for people with disabilities, children under six, senior citizens, and individuals recognized for meritorious service.

Passengers who take buses connecting to the first metro line or use the mass transit within its first month of operation should also receive free travel passes, the People's Committee proposed.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways, which is the investor of the metro line, and Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company proposed offering free travel to those five specific groups, according to a dispatch sent to the municipal People’s Council.

The municipal administration said that those propositions will encourage residents to ride the metro trains, a new and modern mode of transportation in the city, if they are passed.

Such free rides will also contribute to forming a habit of using public means of transport among residents.

Funds to cover the free rides for the first four groups are expected to stand at VND43.3 billion (US$1.7 million) per year, while free tickets for passengers during the first 30 days of operation are projected to cost an estimated VND33.1 billion ($1.3 million).

The Ho Chi Minh City administration has suggested providing financial aid to metro and bus operations to cover revenue shortfalls from ticket sales and other costs.

This support is estimated to require over VND2.2 trillion ($87.6 million) annually.

To expedite the process, the administration has also recommended that the municipal People’s Council draft and adopt resolutions using simplified procedures ahead of its December meeting.

The first metro line is 19.7 kilometers long, including 2.6 kilometers of underground urban rail link and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track, carrying a price tag of VND43.7 trillion ($1.7 billion).

The line has a total of 17 trains, each capable of accommodating 930 passengers, including 147 sitting and 783 standing.

The first metro line project was launched in 2006, and its construction began in 2012.

Metro line No. 1 underwent a test run at full design capacity from late October to early November.

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