200 trees to be removed to boost connectivity to HCMC's first metro line

The approval to cut down and relocate the trees along Vo Nguyen Giap Street has been granted to the Public Transport Management Center by the Thu Duc Technical Infrastructure Development Center. Among them, 148 trees will be relocated and 37 cut down within May.

The project for better accessibility and connectivity with HCMC's first metro line has a total investment cost at over VND93 billion ($3.67 million). The project entails several infrastructures, including bus stations and parking lots, around 11 elevated metro stations, and the renovation of sidewalks to help pedestrians access the stations more easily.

The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line spans around 20 km with three underground stations and 11 elevated ones. It costs over VND43.7 trillion, and is now 98% completed. It is expected to enter commercial operation in the fourth quarter.

Besides the 200 trees, over 400 more along certain routes in Districts 1, 3, 10, Tan Binh and Tan Phu will either be cut down or relocated as well for the construction of the second metro line.