The Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) of HCM City is seeking urgent financial support of VND39 billion (USD1.69 million) from the city budget to continue its operations.

Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project has been delayed for long

According to MAUR, the agency asked HCM City People’s Committee to advance finance for its operations in November 2018, but to date, it has not yet received a response.  

The agency has been unable to pay salaries.

The VND39-billion aid is aimed to help MAUR to pay salaries, bonuses and social welfare payments for staff. This is essential as MAUR needs to improve its operations to regain trust among international donors for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project which is slated to be completed in October 2020.

At the end of last year, around 50 of MAUR’s 220 staff left their job due to different reasons, including the agency’s financial difficulties. The long-delayed Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project also discouraged them.

MAUR was initially scheduled to be financially supported for five years, but the implementation of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro is predicted to last until October 2020 instead of 2012 as previously planned. 

Lao Dong/Dtinews