The construction of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 2 is expected to begin in 2022, according to a report prepared by the municipal administration.

The project’s site clearance process has reached 74 percent of completion, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee stated in the report submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

A total of 462 out of 603 households have agreed to hand over their land and relocate to other places, the administration continued, adding that site clearance will be finished over the next months.

The Management Authority for Urban Railways, developer of the project, is completing necessary procedures to begin the bidding process within 2021.

After competent contractors are selected, the metro line project is expected to be implemented in mid-2022.

The project is still facing several issues in the re-evaluation of loan conditions, such as a loan extension from German state-owned development bank KfW, and signing of an appendix in the consulting contract.

The municipal administration is seeking assistance from the Ministry of Planning and Investment in solving these problems to make sure the project is carried out as planned.

Metro route No. 2, named Ben Thanh-Tham Luong, stretches 11.2 kilometers and runs through District 1, District 3, District 10, District 12, Tan Binh District, and Tan Phu District.

It includes a 9.2-kilometer underground section and two-kilometer elevated section, with investment capital estimated at over VND47.8 trillion (US$2 billion).

The construction of an office building and ancillary works at the Tham Luong depot in District 12 has been completed. This building will act as the operation center of the metro line in the future.

The developer is completing necessary procedures to seek contractors for the remaining construction packages, including tunnels, terminals, viaducts, and electromechanical and electrical systems among others.

The project is slated for completion in 2026.

Meanwhile, the city’s metro line No. 1 has entered the final phases of construction and is expected to be put into commercial operation in 2022.

The metro route, which runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9, is 19.7km long, including 2.6km of underground railways and 17.1km of elevated railways.

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