Metro Line 1 will not be able to operate commercially in July.

Metro Line No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien cannot be put into commercial operation in July after 3 requests to extend the completion time.

From now until the end of September (third quarter) of this year, metro line No. 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) needs to complete the unfinished tasks of the project and stop at the trial operation stage.

Metro Line 1 is expected to be put into commercial operation in the fourth quarter. This is the fourth time the project has been delayed.

The detailed plan is stated in the latest dispatch of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board sent to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, to propose removing difficulties of metro project No. 1.

The reason why this project cannot be put into operation in July this year as scheduled is that the safety assessment of the construction system has not been completed; fire prevention and fighting has not been accepted; training of key train drivers, operators, managers, and maintenance personnel has not been completed... The State Inspection Council has not accepted the remaining items.

Metro Line 1 will not be able to operate commercially in July photo 1

Passengers experience metro train No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien during a test run on the main line (Photo: Nam Anh).

These tasks are expected to be completed from the third quarter to the fourth quarter to put the project into official commercial operation.

Metro Line No. 1 project is 19.7km long, including 2.6km underground and 17.1km elevated. The total investment after adjustment is 43,700 billion VND. The project has a route through District 1, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc City (HCMC) and Di An (Binh Duong).

The entire metro line No. 1 has 3 underground stations and 11 elevated stations: Van Thanh, Tan Cang, Thao Dien, An Phu, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, Thu Duc, High-Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Suoi Tien Bus Station.

The project is currently 97% complete. Previously, the Prime Minister issued Decision 65, approving the adjustment of the investment policy for Metro Line 1 project, postponing the completion of this line to the end of the fourth quarter of 2023 with a commitment to not incur additional costs.

The project had to postpone its commercial operation until July this year, but it was still too late. Along with the previous 3 extensions, this is the 4th time this route has postponed its operation.