Slow site clearance raises costs of Ho Chi Minh City’s 2nd metro line

The site clearance work for the second metro line project in Ho Chi Minh City is being conducted at a snail’s pace, resulting in an increase by VND68 billion (US$2.8 million) in costs per year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the investor of the project. In particular, districts where the metro line will pass through have handed over 86.69 percent of the site for the project. Under a decision on the compensation and resettlement for the metro line project, District 3 has some VND268 billion ($11.2 million) left for the increased costs. The second metro line in Ho Chi Minh City was designed to stretch 11.3 kilometers, passing through six districts of 1, 3, 10, 12, Tan Binh, and Tan Phu. The metro line construction commenced in 2010 and was expected to be put into commercial operation in 2016.