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Vietnam’s Bustling Ho Chi Minh Metropolis Rolls Out Its Lengthy-Awaited Metro Line Promising to Revolutionize Commuting with Free Rides for One Month
Monday, December 23, 2024
Ho Chi Minh Metropolis debuts its first metro line after years of delays, aiming to ease congestion for 9 million residents with free rides for the primary month.
Greater than a decade after building started, Vietnam’s largest metropolis has launched its inaugural mass fast transit system.
Spanning from the bustling Ben Thanh market within the metropolis middle to the Soui Tien Theme Park on its northwestern outskirts, the road options 14 stations—three underground and 11 elevated.
The launch follows years of setbacks, attributed to challenges like monetary hurdles and the Covid-19 pandemic, state media reported.
Vietnamese officers anticipate the metro will ease the infamous site visitors congestion in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, dwelling to roughly 9 million residents.
The metro system’s bold plan consists of eight traces, although timelines for the remaining routes are but to be disclosed.
To encourage ridership, the federal government is providing free tickets for the primary month and complimentary connections to new electrical buses serving metro stations. Afterward, fares will vary from 7,000 to twenty,000 dong (27 to 79 cents), with free rides for seniors and disabled passengers. College students and customers of e-payment apps can take pleasure in discounted fares. Trains will function day by day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vietnam’s transit improvement has change into a focus of competitors between Japan and China, each vying to broaden their affect within the area.
Japan invested 43.7 trillion Vietnamese dong ($1.72 billion) within the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis challenge, however China-backed Hanoi managed to debut its first metro line earlier in 2021. Hanoi’s second metro line is slated for building in 2025.
Earlier this 12 months, Vietnam unveiled daring plans to assemble two high-speed rail traces linking with China, its largest buying and selling accomplice. A high-speed connection between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Metropolis can also be within the works.
