Saigon’s downtown metro terminal set to open to public visits
Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 07:48 GMT+7
A metro terminal near the Municipal Theater in downtown Ho Chi Minh City is being finalized and will be made available for public observation for the first-ever time since its building started six years ago.
The terminal is part of the long-awaited metro line No. 1.
The city’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) hopes that opening the terminal to public visits would help to inform residents of the progress made on one of the key projects of Ho Chi Minh City.
Due to developments of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Vietnam, however, the opening date would be pushed back until the situation is under control.
Le Thanh Le, project manager of the metro line’s construction package 1b, said that the terminal consists of four underground floors, construction work on which commenced in July 2014.
So far, the fundamental structure has been completed, leaving only interior installation tasks to be done.
Floor B1 is designed to house the waiting lounge for commuters, ticket vending machines, and automated fare collection gates, most of which have been finished in time to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Reunification Day (April 30).
Construction of Floors B2 and B4, where train platforms are located, is being accelerated and expected to be completed within 2020.
Electrical equipment has been installed on Floor B3, reserved for maintenance, on schedule.
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| The construction site for a downtown terminal of the metro line No. 1 project has been cleared for a green space opposite the Municipal Theater in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
Le said one of the most challenging tasks in constructing the terminal was its closeness to historical landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City such as the Municipal Theater and Rex Hotel.
The Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line, also known as metro line No. 1, is 19.7 kilometers long with 2.6 kilometers running underground.
Construction kicked off in August 2012 and so far 72 percent of the workload has been finished.
The MAUR said they are striving to speed up the remaining work on the metro line, with the aim of completing 85 percent of the workload by the end of this year and bringing the station into service in 2021.
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| A bird-eye's view of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| The construction site for a downtown terminal of the metro line No. 1 project has been cleared for a green space opposite the Municipal Theater in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A staircase leads to Floor B3 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Inside Floor B1 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Inside Floor B1 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A ticket vending booth is seen on Floor B1 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Construction workers finalize Floor B1 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A tunnel connecting the Municipal Theater Terminal with Ben Thanh Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Construction workers work on Floor B2 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| Inside Floor B1 of the Municipal Theater Terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 project in District 1. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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