More trains for Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line between Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien have arrived at Khanh Hoi Port from Japan on May 6.

The first carriage of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro train was placed on the track at 9.25 a.m. on the morning of October 10.

Real estate buyers are betting on the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Metro to rail in big cash for them, as well as bring in external investment for the city and revolutionize urban infrastructure.

Many provinces and cities across the country have been speeding up the construction of major traffic works in the last year of implementing the 12th National Party Congress’ resolution, contributing to the country’s development achievements in the phase of 2015-2020.

The HCMC Urban Railway Management Board on April 25 said that the B1 basement of the Opera House metro station under the first metro line project, Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien, has been built 140 days before schedule.

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has decided to reduce total investment capital of the city’s first metro line project Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien to VND43.6 trillion (US$1.99 billion), down VND3.4 trillion ($146.37 million) compared to initial estimates.

Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has sent an urgent dispatch to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment on capital adjustment for the first and second metro lines, Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien and Ben Thanh-Tham Luong, announced the committee’s office yesterday afternoon.

According to the Ministry of Transport seven out of 10 major traffic projects under construction are behind schedule or under the risk of lagging behind schedule.

A slew of pedestrian bridges spanning over Hanoi Highway will be built to connect the highway with stations of the first metro line Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien, which is schedule to come into operation next year, to provide residents’ easy access to the stations, said Director of HCMC Urban Railway Management Board Bui Xuan Cuong.

Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan yesterday inspected rail installation at Phuoc Long station of the first metro line Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien along Hanoi Highway and some other items of the project, talked to foreign experts and contractors about problems relating to construction progress.