Metro Line 1 begins a new journey, creating the premise for developing the urban railway system for Ho Chi Minh City in the next 10 years.
At a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board on the afternoon of December 27, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the Politburo had approved the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Development Project until 2035. Accordingly, in the next 10 years, Ho Chi Minh City will develop an additional 355 km of metro.
There will be 7 more routes
Chairman Phan Van Mai emphasized that this is a heavy task with many challenges, but if determined and with a way to do it, Ho Chi Minh City will be able to do it. In particular, the event of Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) officially going into commercial operation is an important milestone, marking a turning point in the development of Ho Chi Minh City's transportation, creating momentum for the development of Metro Line No. 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong) as well as other metro lines.
Assessing the urban railway system as the "backbone" of Ho Chi Minh City's transport infrastructure, Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), said that according to the plan, by 2035, this type of transport will take on 40%-50% of the public passenger transport market share, increasing to 50%-60% in the following 10 years.
Specifically, after metro line 1, the city will build 7 metro lines including: Line 1 (Long Binh depot - Ben Thanh - An Ha) 40.8 km long; Line 2 (Cu Chi - National Highway 22 - An Suong - Ben Thanh - Thu Thiem) 62.2 km long; Line 3 (Hiep Binh Phuoc - Binh Trieu - Cong Hoa 6-way intersection - Tan Kien - An Ha) 45.8 km long; Line 4 (Dong Thanh - Tan Son Nhat airport - Ben Thanh - Nguyen Huu Tho - Hiep Phuoc urban area) 47.3 km long; Line 5 (Long Truong - Hanoi highway - Saigon bridge - Bay Hien - Da Phuoc depot) 53.9 km long; Line 6 Inner belt line 53.8 km long; Line 7 (Tan Kien - Nguyen Van Linh - Thu Thiem - Thao Dien - Thanh Da - CNC Zone - Vinhomes Grand Park) 51.2 km long.
"To achieve this goal, we must change the way we do things, change the process differently from metro line 1. In particular, with this project, Ho Chi Minh City has proposed 43 specific mechanisms belonging to many groups related to planning; capital mobilization policies; procedures; site clearance; technical standards, technology; management, exploitation... as well as considering the option of establishing an Urban Railway Group with the functions of capital mobilization, metro project investment management... With a new and proactive approach, we hope to shorten the construction time of 7 metro lines by 2035 as the set target" - Mr. Phan Cong Bang informed.
According to Mr. Bang, in the immediate future, in 2024-2025, MAUR will urgently complete the procedures to start construction of metro line 2, expected to complete site clearance by the end of 2024 and complete technical infrastructure relocation in the second quarter of 2025.
In the next 10 years, Ho Chi Minh City will develop 7 more metro lines with a total length of 355 km.
The urban railway system will be the "backbone" of Ho Chi Minh City's transport infrastructure. Photo: Hoang Trieu
Metro development associated with TOD
Dr. Ngo Viet Nam Son, Architect, said that after nearly 20 years of construction with many difficulties and challenges, the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City has been put into operation, marking an important milestone in the history of public transport development in Ho Chi Minh City. This is just the beginning of a new, longer journey, in the near future, how to exploit this railway line effectively, becoming a driving force for socio-economic development, connecting urban spaces and shaping a new lifestyle.
According to Mr. Ngo Viet Nam Son, the lessons learned from the construction of Metro Line 1 will be an important basis for implementing the following lines more quickly and effectively, avoiding the repetition of previous delays and difficulties in order to implement the project of building 7 metro lines in the next 10 years. Although this is a challenging task, we can completely achieve it if we prepare carefully. Before implementation, we need to spend time researching and developing a systematic TOD urban development strategy model.
With the TOD model, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son suggested that the city should focus on two major tasks: First, complete TOD on metro line 1 because there is a lot of potential to develop new urban areas according to the TOD model. Second, review the entire TOD planning because the current planning is mainly based on old thinking that only focuses on transportation functions and is based on the existing road traffic system.
However, if TOD thinking is applied, the city can better combine transport development with urban development, depopulation and increase budget revenue, reduce compensation and clearance costs. Although approved, the city needs to boldly continue to study and adjust the route and location of unbuilt metro stations in the spirit of TOD, to help exploit metro lines more effectively and reduce resource waste.
"In addition, an effective public transport system according to the TOD model is not limited to metro but needs to be organized in a diverse way, including high-speed rail, Monorail, Tramway, bus and river bus. All must be connected into a synchronous network, helping people easily move between points in the city. When each public transport is integrated with the radial metro system, people will save time, costs, and ensure safety" - Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son proposed.
Must give autonomy and self-determination to Ho Chi Minh City
Dr. Phan Huu Duy Quoc, a member of the Advisory Council for the project to develop the urban railway system in Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the next 10 years, in order for the city to basically complete the metro system as planned, it requires a change in the way it works. Accordingly, it is necessary to give autonomy and decision-making power to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee as well as the Urban Railway Management Board. If the construction process still requires permission from many agencies and process control as it is now, it is certainly impossible to implement this ambitious plan.
According to Mr. Quoc, along with granting autonomy and self-determination in the implementation process, the city government needs to be self-reliant in capital sources, reduce dependence on ODA loans, be self-reliant in technical standards and gradually develop domestic resources, from locomotives to technical systems. "Only when all these factors converge can the ambition of completing the metro network in 10 years become a reality," Mr. Quoc said.
Proposing 43 breakthrough policy mechanisms
According to the HCM City Urban Railway Development Project, the city proposes to invest in 7 metro lines with a length of about 355 km, to be completed by 2035, with an investment capital of about 40.21 billion USD. By 2045, an additional 155 km will be completed, bringing the total length to about 510 km.
To successfully implement and soon complete the goal, the project proposes a total of 43 breakthrough policy mechanisms. Of which, 32 policy mechanisms are under the authority of the National Assembly, and 13 mechanisms are under the authority of the Government.
Regarding budget capital, the city will mobilize from the medium-term capital plan, excess revenue, land fund exploitation (TOD), and local government bond issuance. In addition, it will mobilize loans, mobilize from BT contracts (paid by budget or land fund), central budget support capital and other legal capital sources.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/hien-thuc-hoa-giac-mo-19624123119252228.htm
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