HCMC Plans $1B for Airport Metro Land Acquisition, Compensation

Ho Chi Minh City is advancing a feasibility study for the initial phase of compensation, support, and resettlement for Metro Line No. 6 (Tan Son Nhat-Phu Huu), with an estimated cost of VND26.336 trillion (around $1 billion) for land acquisition. The city's Department of Agriculture and Environment has submitted this to relevant agencies for appraisal. According to the HCMC Urban Railway Management Board, the project will affect 2,501 households and organizations, requiring full clearance for 2,256 and partial demolition for the remainder. Over 95 hectares of land will be acquired. The 19 km underground and above-ground line will feature 17 stations, including 13 underground. Its depot will be located in the Binh Trieu area of former Thu Duc City. The line begins at Ba Queo Station (ST01) near the Tan Ky Tan Quy-Truong Chinh intersection, connecting with the under-construction Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro line. It will run underground into Tan Son Son Nhat Airport, cross the Saigon River, and then head towards former Thu Duc City. It will gradually rise above ground near the Vo Nguyen Giap-Ring Road 2 area before splitting into two branches. One branch will terminate at Phu Huu Station, while the other will connect with the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh Airport route, linking to Long Thanh Airport, which is slated to begin commercial operations in December as Vietnam's largest airport. Metro Line No. 6 is prioritized for investment by the city. Construction is expected to commence by the end of this year and conclude in 2030, expanding the city's total metro network to 255 km. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has urged relevant agencies and local authorities to review the route, project boundaries, land use, and structures to ensure consistency with planning. Intersections with other projects also require scrutiny to prevent complications. The Department of Finance will assess funding sources and the city's financial capacity, while local authorities will prepare compensation and resettlement plans. Metro Line No. 6 is envisioned as HCMC's inner ring metro line. Information Source: VnExpress International