HCM City (VNA) – The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) in Ho Chi Minh City will start commercial operations on December 22, 2024, while its official inauguration has been postponed to after the 2025 lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
At a recent city council meeting, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Pham Van Mai said that this metro line is a symbol of cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, and the inauguration will see the presence of Vietnamese and Japanese leaders and relevant agencies.
According to Mai, the city has expedited remaining construction and necessary procedures, aiming to ensure operations commence on schedule. Central agenices and the city collaborated to finalise fire safety-related procedures, secure train safety certifications, which are expected to be completed by December 20.
Despite progress, unresolved disputes among project stakeholders remain. A group team co-led by city officials and the Japanese ambassador has been established to address these issues. If unresolved, disputes may proceed to international arbitration.
To encourage ridership, the city has proposed free tickets for all passengers during the first 30 days of operations, costing approximately 15.7 billion VND (617,000 USD).
An additional 17.3 billion VND will support free rides on 17 bus routes connecting to the metro during this period. Specific groups, including nation contributors, the elderly, and children under six, will enjoy permanent free access.
With an investment of over 43.7 trillion VND, the line spans nearly 20 kilometres, including 2.6 kilometres of underground railway. The metro line features three underground stations and 11 elevated stops. The line is equipped with a total of 17 trains, each with a capacity to accommodate 930 passengers, including 147 seated and 783 standing./.
