The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development outlined this information in an official document to the Department of Finance, providing feedback on the project dossier researched and invested in by VinSpeed, a company under Vingroup. The elevated metro line will begin on Nguyen Van Linh Street (between the intersection of Nguyen Thi Thap and Ly Phuc Man streets, Tan Thuan ward, former District 7) and terminate at the Can Gio Coastal Urban Area. It will have two stations (Tan Thuan and Can Gio) and a depot on a 39-hectare site.

Rung Sac Road, Can Gio district, 9/2024. Photo: Quynh Tran

The project traverses six wards and communes: Tan Thuan, Tan My, Nha Be, Binh Khanh, An Thoi, and Can Gio. Of the total 325 hectares to be acquired, over 8 hectares are residential land, nearly 42 hectares are agricultural land, and the remainder comprises transportation, non-agricultural land, and canals.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city budget is currently balancing several other urgent projects, making it difficult to allocate funds for the metro line. Therefore, the department suggested that the parties discuss with VinSpeed the possibility of the investor advancing the site clearance costs, with the city reimbursing later, or incorporating these costs directly into the project expenses. VinSpeed was also advised to explore transit-oriented development (TOD) models at the two depot areas to maximize land use efficiency and offset financial obligations.

Planned route of the metro line connecting downtown Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

In addition to the metro line, Can Gio is also planned to have a 40-meter wide road connecting the 30/4 roundabout to the center of the Coastal Urban Area. Consequently, the department recommended that land acquisition and site clearance for both projects be carried out concurrently to ensure synchronization.

The Can Gio metro line is one of 12 urban railway projects planned in Ho Chi Minh City before the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The project has a total investment of 2.93 billion USD (over 76,000 billion VND), a design speed of 350 km/h, and is targeted to commence in Quarter IV of this year and be completed by early 2028.

Giang Anh