HCMC seeks to link 1st metro with neighboring provinces

Line No.1, which is still under construction and set to run between Ben Thanh Market in downtown Ho Chi Minh City to Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City, should then be split into two branches to run to Dong Nai and Binh Duong, according to a city transport plan.

The department is collecting opinions from related agencies for the plan, its director Tran Quang Lam told a meeting between the city and neighboring provinces on Friday.

As per the existing plan, the first metro line of HCMC will run 19.7 km, and the new plan is expanding its total length to 50 km, including an extra section of 1.8 km in Thu Duc City.

After ending at Thu Duc, the metro will run in two directions, 18.3 km to Dong Nai and 30 km to Binh Duong.

Lam said the two provinces had already agreed in principle with the new plan.

All of the extra sections as proposed in the new plan will be elevated.

The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line is now 95% completed after many delays since work started in 2012.

At a total cost of over VND43.7 trillion ($1.85 billion), it will have three underground stations and 11 elevated ones.

The project is expected to be finished within this year, to start commercial operation in 2024.