The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Authority (MAUR) has officially approved a consulting package for the adjusted feasibility study report, Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), and construction bidding process for Metro Line 2, which will connect Ben Thanh to Tham Luong.

A consortium comprising Guangzhou Metro Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (China), Southern Transportation Design and Consulting JSC, Port and Marine Technical Consulting Design JSC, and ARTELIA SAS won the contract with a bid valued at over VND175 billion ($6.63 million). This figure covers all costs, including profits, taxes, and contingencies, with a project timeline of 12 months.

The consulting team will be responsible for: preparing an adjusted feasibility study, including scope expansion and transitioning funding from ODA (Official Development Assistance) to the city’s public investment budget; updating the technical design to reflect current site conditions; and supporting the construction bidding process to select contractors.

Metro Line 2 spans over 11 km, with more than 9 km underground and the remainder elevated. It will link the bustling city center with the northwestern gateway, easing congestion and improving urban mobility.

Originally approved in 2010, the project has experienced repeated delays and is now slated for completion by 2030. In light of challenges with ODA funding, the city is pivoting to public investment under the National Assembly's Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15 (on piloting special mechanisms and policies for urban railway network development in Hanoi and HCM City), with construction expected to begin by late 2025.

Notably, Metro Line 2 is the first urban railway project in Ho Chi Minh City to benefit from a special development mechanism, marking a significant milestone in the city's infrastructure evolution.