Ho Chi Minh City begins relocating underground infrastructure for construction of Metro Line 2

It is reported that the city of Ho Chi Minh City will begin relocating underground electricity, water and telecommunications infrastructure this month to build Metro Line 2.

Electrical cables will be removed first from June 6, followed by communication cables and sewerage.

The Ho Chi Minh City Rail Administration (MAUR), which manages all of the city’s subway projects, said it aims the move to be completed within the third quarter of this year.

Line 2 between Ben Thanh and Tham Luong runs 1 kilometers between Districts 12 and 11 and passes through Districts 3, 10, Tan Binh and Tan Phu.

Line 2 will consist of 10 stations, nine of which will be built underground.

In April, the Vietnamese government approved the postponement of the project to recruit new consultants after MAUR failed to renew its initial contract.

MAUR also did not pay for the land acquired for the project, citing disagreements with local authorities, which contributed to the delay of the project.

The line is scheduled to be completed in 2026 instead of 2030, with an official opening planned for 2032. The plan was for 2016.

It is said that the existing project cost of $1.3 billion has increased to $2.1 billion as of 2019.

To date, 87% of the land required for the line has been acquired, and most of the remaining land is in Zone 3.

MAUR said the agencies involved are speeding up the process to acquire all the land by the end of this year.

After long delays, Ho Chi Minh City’s first subway line is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and official operation is expected to begin next year.

[Vnexpress]