HCM CITY — City authorities are seeking investors for a US$376-million monorail project, which they aim to be included on a list of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in need of Project Development Facility (PDF) capital.  

The city is asking approval from the Ministry of Planning and Investment to include the monorail project on the list.   

The 3-line monorail will ensure connections between the urban railway system and other public transport, such as bus, taxi and waterway vehicles.

Ground-breaking is expected to take place in 2019 and be completed in five years.

Monorail No.3, which runs from the Phan Văn Trị - Nguyễn Oanh crossroads in Gò Vấp District through Quang Trung Software Park to Tân Chánh Hiệp station in District 12, is expected to attract a huge number of passengers.

The 16.5km route, which connects to monorail No.4 (running from Thạnh Xuân – Hiệp Phước) at the Gò Vấp six-way intersection, includes a six-hectare depot in District 12’s Tân Chánh Hiệp Ward.

A Thai investor has expressed interest in the project, but the city plans to choose the investor by an international tender.

Detailed proposals for the project will be made next year, and a feasibility study, along with land clearance, will occur in the next two years.

The monorail system is expected to ease traffic congestion and pollution, and help reduce the number of accidents.

According to the city’s master plan for transport to 2020 approved by the Government, the southern hub will have eight metro lines, six bus rapid transit routes, and three tramway or monorail lines.

The tramway No.1 line, which is 13 kilometres long, will run from Ba Son Shipyard through Tôn Đức Thắng Street, Mê Linh Square, Võ Văn Kiệt Street and Lý Chiêu Hoàng Street to the Southwestern Region Bus Station in Bình Tân District and Thanh Đa Urban Area in Bình Thạnh District.

Meanwhile, the VNĐ15-trillion monorail No. 2, which will be 27.2 kilometres in length, will start at the Nguyễn Văn Linh Boulevard - National Highway No.1A - National Highway No.50 intersection in District 8.

It will run through densely populated residential areas in Bình Chánh and Bình Thạnh districts as well as districts 2 and 7.

This monorail train is expected to attract many passengers as it passes through a series of populated areas.

Monorail trains have the advantage of being less expensive than other railway systems, including underground railways. — VNS