The construction of urban mass rapid transit (UMRT) system in Ho Chi Minh City has faced with technical challenges, said director of Hanoi Metro Line 2 project Chitoshi Izumi at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on June 9.
Stations have been built in narrow areas with weak terrain which might cause depression on construction site, he said. Other challenges come from the assessment and approval process of projects, social environment and capital source.
It was necessary to carefully map out plans before and during construction. Execution units should minimize depression caused by tunnel digging and train operation should not cause noise and shake to residential areas, he said.
Other Japanese experts at the seminar referred to some urban railway projects in Thailand and Indonesia, which have been forced to stop due to heavy losses because the number of passengers was far behind expectations.
According to a transport development plan by 2020, HCMC’s urban railway system will comprise eight subway and three monorail routes stretching over 229 kilometers.
