Ho Chi Minh City will need a budget of more than $40bn to build seven urban railways by 2035, according to the city’s Transport Department, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
The lines would need $16bn in the five years between 2026 and 2030, and a further $24bn in the next five.
The proposal was submitted to the municipal People’s Council on Wednesday.
An increase in car ownership, inadequate roads and a delayed metro scheme have resulted in severe congestion in the city.
According to the Transport Department, Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, a major artery, witnessed 811 traffic jams in the first nine months of this year – nearly as many as the 978 incidents recorded in all of 2023.
This averages over two traffic jams a day, making it the city’s most congested area.
The seven lines are expected to meet up to half 50% of commuting demand in the city.
They would have a total length of about 355km, of which 152km would be underground. These lines would serve 258 stations and would be served by 12 maintenance depots.
The People’s Committee aims to start construction of the lines by 2028 at the latest, to complete all seven routes by 2035.
Between 2035 and 2045, the city aims to build three more lines with a total length of 155km, meeting up to 60% of demand.
The People’s Committee may increase the length of underground stretches to reduce the need for demolitions, with its associated costs for compensation and resettlement.
A further aim is to take advantage of improved transport links to upgrade the urban realm around the new stations.
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