Work begins on last section of tracks for HCMC's 1st metro

By Gia Minh November 9, 2021 | 08:17 pm PT

Workers work on the final section of HCMC's metro line No.1 tracks. Photo by HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways

The final stretch of 660 meters of track for HCMC’s metro line No.1 is being laid, and the work is expected to be completed in two months.

They are being installed in both directions in the underground section between the Saigon Opera House and Ben Thanh Market in District 1.

The installation will complete the entire 19.7-km line from Ben Thanh to Long Binh depot in Thu Duc City.

The underground section will run 2.6 km with three stations. Two of them, Opera House and Ba Son on Ton Duc Thang Street also in District 1, have been completed, and Ben Thanh will be completed this year.

The project was approved in 2007 but work only began in 2012.

There have been several delays, and the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways said in September that the route would be completed in late 2023 or early 2024 after one final delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be 91 percent complete by the end of this year, it said.

Costing more than VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion), the line will have 14 stations, three underground and 11 on the surface, some elevated.