The Dong Nai Province Department of Transport announced on Wednesday a proposal to have Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 extended to Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park in the southern province.

Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, in An Hoa Ward of Dong Nai’s Bien Hoa City, spans a total area of over 300 hectares and is expected to evolve into an urban - commercial - service area.

According to the new proposal, metro line No. 1, which runs parallel to National Highway 1, would be extended to include a main station at Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park in order to connect downtown of Bien Hoa City and the province as a whole with Ho Chi Minh City.

The extension would be carried out in compliance with current provincial planning, the Dong Nai transport department explained.

The agency has asked the provincial People’s Committee to seek approval from the prime minister for the plan.

Previously, metro line No. 1 was planned to stretch further from Suoi Tien Station on National Highway 1 in Thu Duc City to Cho Sat T-junction in Bien Hoa City under a decision issued on April 8, 2013 by the prime minister.

According to the ongoing plan, metro line No. 1 is 19.7 kilometers long and includes 2.6 kilometers of underground railway and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track.

It runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City through three underground stations and 11 above-ground stops.

The metro project, which started in August 2012, has a total investment of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.9 billion).

About 91.3 percent of the metro line has been completed so far.

The metro line is expected to be put into operation in late 2023.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!