Central station for Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 moves closer to completion
Thursday, August 17, 2023, 20:10 GMT+7
The underground Ben Thanh metro station, considered the central station for Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line project, is 99 percent complete, according to the municipal Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).
Situated at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, just footsteps from iconic landmarks such as Ben Thanh Market and 23-9 Park, as well as prominent roads including Ham Nghi, Le Loi, and Tran Hung Dao, the Ben Thanh underground metro station is expected to transform the city center into a future symbol of the southern metropolis.
Construction on the 14,160-square-meter station commenced in November 2016.
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| An aerial view of the lotus-shaped skylight at Ben Thanh Station, which will service metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
The station features four floors situated about 32 meters below ground level.
The facility is divided into three sections, including a public area, a technical area, and a staff area.
Serving as the main hub of the Ho Chi Minh City metro system, it will be linked to future metro lines.
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| An underground pathway linking Ben Thanh Station with Opera House Station on Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
According to MAUR, the overall structure of the station is over 99 percent complete and nearly all of its fundamental elements have been finalized.
The final touches are being applied to resolve minor issues, like scratches.
The facility is one of three subterranean stations set to serve the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro route project, which runs 19.7 kilometers from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, including 2.6 kilometers of underground railways and 17.1 kilometers of elevated railways.
The metro line will also feature 11 above-ground stations.
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| The first level of Ben Thanh Station covers approximately 45,000 square meters and features nearly 200 concrete pillars enveloped in aluminum. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
Seventeen Japanese-manufactured trains measuring 61.5 meters long and capable of carrying 930 passengers will run along the metro line.
Carrying an estimated price tag of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.8 billion), the route is now about 96 percent complete and has embarked on three test runs.
Construction of the project is expected to be finished this year.
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| A construction worker cleans a handrail at the underground Ben Thanh station, which will service Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
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| Engineers work on the underground Ben Thanh station, which will service Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
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| The lotus-shaped skylight in Ben Thanh Station, which will service metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
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| A track measures over 600 meters in length and 1.4 meters in width, establishing a connection between Ben Thanh Station and Opera House Station, which will service Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
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| Engineers work on the underground Ben Thanh station, which will service Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre |
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