HCMC to spend $4 mln to boost metro connectivity

The fund will be used to build bus stops around stations of the metro line, which runs 19.7 kilometers to connect Ben Thanh Market in District 1 with Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, as decided by the legislative People's Council on Thursday.

Set to be carried out from now until 2024 with HCMC Public Transport Management Center the main investor, the project will also build parking lots near the metro's 14 stations, with three underground and 11 elevated.

Existing bus stations along Hanoi Highway in Thu Duc City, through which the line passes, will be upgraded and reorganized to make it easier for passengers to walk from bus stops to metro stations.

HCMC's first metro line, whose construction started in 2012, is set to cost over VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion).

After several delays, it is now 89 percent complete and expected to start operation at the end of 2023.