A 45,000 sq.m underground structural cluster including a terminal formetro systems and a trade center will be built underneath Le LoiStreet and the Ben Thanh Market Square in Ho Chi Minh City 'sdistrict 1.
The project, jointly set up by the city'sMunicipal Management Authority for Urban Railway (MAUR) and the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA), promises to create a new facefor the southern economic hub.
Le Khac Huynh, deputydirector of MAUR, said the cluster will start operations in 2017, at thesame time as the Metro Line 1 and Line 2.
The terminal,built 40m underground, will consist of two parts: three storeys for fourmetro systems – the first floor for Line 1 and 3A, the second for Line2, and the third for Line 4. These will be surrounded by retail shops.
A trade centre covering 25,500sq.m will be located underground along Le Loi Street .
Besides taking full advantage of underground space, the trade centreaimed to provide comfortable services for metro passengers, Huynh said.
He said profits earned from the center will be used to cover investment costs of the metro lines.
"This model has been applied successfully in many countries worldwide, including Japan," Huynh said.
According to MAUR, total cost for the cluster could reach 900 millionUSD, 429 million USD of which will be for the terminal and 479 millionUSD for the trade centre.
After the project is approved bythe Government, the city will call for investment from privateinvestors and proceed with procedures to obtain loans from Japan 'sODA fund.
Construction will be split into several phases.The terminal for Metro Line 1 and Line 2 will be built in Phase 1. Thesurrounding shops and terminals for other metro lines will be completedin Phase 2. The underground space for the trade centre, which will standabove the Metro Line 1, will be prepared first. The centre will bebuilt when sufficient funds are available.
Theconstruction will have a major impact on existing undergroundstructures. However, MAUR said the city People's Committee will directlyprovide "proper" instructions on the relocation of underground systems,including electricity, water, and telecommunication infrastructure.
Work on Metro Line 1, running from Ben Thanh Market (District 1) to theSuoi Tien Area (District 9), is scheduled to begin on August 28. Itwill have 14 terminals, three of them underground.
Besidesthe Metro Line 1, the city plans six metro lines. These are: the 20-kmLine 2 from Thu Thiem Pennisula (District 2) to the Tay Ninh Bus Station(District 12); the 23-km Line 3A and Line 3B from Ben Thanh Market(District 1) to Tan Kien and from Cong Hoa Crossroads (Tan BinhDistrict) to Hiep Binh Phuc (Thu Duc District); the 24-km Line 4 fromNguyen Van Linh to Ben Cat Bridge (District 12); the 17-km Line 5 fromSai Gon Bridge (Dist 2) to Can Giuoc Bus Station (District 8); and the6-km Line 6 from Ba Queo (Tan Binh District) to Phu Lam (District 6).-VNA
The project, jointly set up by the city'sMunicipal Management Authority for Urban Railway (MAUR) and the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA), promises to create a new facefor the southern economic hub.
Le Khac Huynh, deputydirector of MAUR, said the cluster will start operations in 2017, at thesame time as the Metro Line 1 and Line 2.
The terminal,built 40m underground, will consist of two parts: three storeys for fourmetro systems – the first floor for Line 1 and 3A, the second for Line2, and the third for Line 4. These will be surrounded by retail shops.
A trade centre covering 25,500sq.m will be located underground along Le Loi Street .
Besides taking full advantage of underground space, the trade centreaimed to provide comfortable services for metro passengers, Huynh said.
He said profits earned from the center will be used to cover investment costs of the metro lines.
"This model has been applied successfully in many countries worldwide, including Japan," Huynh said.
According to MAUR, total cost for the cluster could reach 900 millionUSD, 429 million USD of which will be for the terminal and 479 millionUSD for the trade centre.
After the project is approved bythe Government, the city will call for investment from privateinvestors and proceed with procedures to obtain loans from Japan 'sODA fund.
Construction will be split into several phases.The terminal for Metro Line 1 and Line 2 will be built in Phase 1. Thesurrounding shops and terminals for other metro lines will be completedin Phase 2. The underground space for the trade centre, which will standabove the Metro Line 1, will be prepared first. The centre will bebuilt when sufficient funds are available.
Theconstruction will have a major impact on existing undergroundstructures. However, MAUR said the city People's Committee will directlyprovide "proper" instructions on the relocation of underground systems,including electricity, water, and telecommunication infrastructure.
Work on Metro Line 1, running from Ben Thanh Market (District 1) to theSuoi Tien Area (District 9), is scheduled to begin on August 28. Itwill have 14 terminals, three of them underground.
Besidesthe Metro Line 1, the city plans six metro lines. These are: the 20-kmLine 2 from Thu Thiem Pennisula (District 2) to the Tay Ninh Bus Station(District 12); the 23-km Line 3A and Line 3B from Ben Thanh Market(District 1) to Tan Kien and from Cong Hoa Crossroads (Tan BinhDistrict) to Hiep Binh Phuc (Thu Duc District); the 24-km Line 4 fromNguyen Van Linh to Ben Cat Bridge (District 12); the 17-km Line 5 fromSai Gon Bridge (Dist 2) to Can Giuoc Bus Station (District 8); and the6-km Line 6 from Ba Queo (Tan Binh District) to Phu Lam (District 6).-VNA
