With construction is already in full swing on Saigon’s first metro line, the city is close to reaching its funding goal for the first phase of line No. 5. Most of the funding will come from the Asia Development Bank, the European Investment bank and the Spanish government.

According to the HCMC Urban Railway Management Board, the ADB will contribute US$500 million, while the EIB and the Spanish Government will provide funds of €150 million and €200 million, respectively with the remainder covered by the city.

Metro line No. 5 is planned to run 23.4 km, providing service from the Saigon Bridge in Binh Thanh District to the Can Giuoc Coach Station in Binh Chanh District.

The first phase will cover 8.9 km of the line from the Saigon Bridge to Bay Hien Intersection in Tan Binh District and is expected to break ground in 2015.

Line No. 5 is the third metro line in the city that has obtained necessary funding to begin construction.

According to Tuoi Tre:

“The other two projects are the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line (metro No. 1) that will link District 1 and District 9, and the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro line (metro No. 2), which will connect District 1 and District 12.

The other four metro projects in the city include No. 3A: Ben Thanh (District 1) – Tan Kien (Binh Chanh District), No. 3B: Cong Hoa Intersection (District 3) – Hiep Binh Phuoc (Thu Duc District), No. 4: Nguyen Van Linh Avenue (District 7) – Ben Cat Bridge (District 12), and No. 6: Ba Queo (Tan Binh District) – Phu Lam Roundabout (District 6).

All of these projects are in the preparation stage.”

The metro lines are vital to the development of Saigon and to avoid the pitfalls of a transportation network based on cars.

[Tuoi Tre]