Lack of Emergency Exits at HCMC Metro Station Raises Safety Concerns Ahead of Opening

The central station of HCMC’s first metro line, Ben Thanh Station, is still lacking emergency exits as the construction of a connected skyscraper has been delayed. The HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the project’s main investor, has proposed solutions to the municipal Department of Construction to resolve the issue, as the project is set to be completed by the end of the year.

The station is the main station of the HCMC metro line and will be connected to a neighboring skyscraper, which is currently under construction. However, as the station’s emergency exits are part of the skyscraper construction, they have not been built due to the tower’s delayed completion until 2025. The NJPT Association, a consultant for the metro line, has proposed certain measures to address the issue, including the creation of temporary emergency exits, which is the most practical option given the current circumstances.

The Ben Thanh Station and the skyscraper are part of the Ben Thanh quadrilateral area project, which is located opposite the Ben Thanh market and includes two connected towers containing offices, hotels, and apartments. The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line is almost 95% complete, spanning 20 km from the Ben Thanh Station to the Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City, with three underground stations and 11 elevated ones.