Specifically the money will fund a replacement of the existing signalling system on the 16.9km light metro line as well as repair station escalators and elevators. The work is expected to increase capacity to 800,000 passengers per day from 350,000 at present and ease overcrowding at stations with the line already used by up to 600,000 daily passengers.

The upgrade is in addition to the purchase of 12 new four-car trains for the line from CNR Dalian in June 2014. CNR said at the time of the Yuan 540m ($US 87.1m) contract award that the first of the vehicles would be delivered in 18 months.