The project will be submitted to the Vietnamese government by the first quarter of 2017, while the feasibility study is expected to be conducted next year, with a view to starting construction by the first quarter of 2019 with completion in 2024. The 2km underground line will run from Hoang Van Thu Park to Tan Son Nhat with underground stations at each end.
The cost of the project is estimated at $US 250m, of which $US 224m would be in the form of a loan from Korea, with the rest provided by the Vietnamese government.
The 4B-1 branch line is excluded from the urban metro line construction plan, but due to the increasing numbers of people travelling to the airport, the citydecided to conduct new research into building the branch line.
Line 4B-1 will connect with Line 5, which in turn will connect with lines 1, 2 and 3A.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has recently agreed to help Ho Chi Minh City to conduct research into extending Line 1 to Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces. Construction of the first section of Line 1 started in 2012 and is due to open in 2020. Ho Chi Minh City plans to build an eight-line network.
