During a meeting with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province on the morning of 30/7, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc announced that extending the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to Dong Nai city's administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport aims to concretize directives from General Secretary, President To Lam. The Prime Minister also agreed in principle to deploy the project under urgent conditions.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this project needs to be operational soon to synchronize with Long Thanh airport's progress and the regional transport system. Implementing it through normal investment procedures would be time-consuming, affecting the overall schedule. Therefore, he concurred with the proposals from Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai province, and relevant ministries and agencies to finalize the political and legal basis for submission to the government, requesting a resolution to classify this as an urgent project.

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien urban railway line. Quynh Tran

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien urban railway line. Quynh Tran

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the People's Committee of Dong Nai province, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Ministry of Construction to review all documents, ensuring a complete legal basis before submission to the government. The Ministry of Construction will guide Dong Nai province in appraising the documents, design, and reports; experts can be mobilized to support the locality if necessary.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province, Ho Van Ha, stated that there are currently three railway lines planned to connect Long Thanh airport: the North - South high-speed railway, the Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway, and the extended Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to Dong Nai city's administrative center and Long Thanh airport.

According to Mr. Ha, when Long Thanh airport becomes operational, the demand for connectivity between Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City will increase sharply. The metro line, measuring 44,5 km in length, with approximately 2,9 km passing through Ho Chi Minh City, will enhance transport capacity, improve connectivity to the airport, and align with urban railway development plans.

The two localities agreed to assign Dong Nai province as the project's managing agency. The project is expected to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, specifically a build-transfer (BT) contract. Dong Nai province has planned urban development areas following the transit-oriented development (TOD) model along the route, preparing reciprocal land funds to mobilize resources. The land clearance project is separate and expected to be completed before 31/12.

Route of the metro extension project from the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line. Hoang Thanh

Route of the metro extension project from the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line. Hoang Thanh

In March, the Prime Minister agreed in principle to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to Dong Nai city's administrative center and Long Thanh airport through urgent procedures to shorten investment formalities.

According to Dong Nai province's proposal, the metro line will connect with the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line in the Tan Van area, cross the Dong Nai river, follow National Highway 1 to the city's new administrative center, then proceed along the Bien Hoa - Long Thanh railway planning corridor and Provincial Road 771, crossing the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway before reaching the airport.

The project has a preliminary total investment of approximately 60.261 billion VND, utilizing about 192 hectares of land, with compensation, support, and resettlement costs estimated at approximately 4.323 billion VND. The implementation period is projected for 2026-2030.

Vu Tuan