The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR) has just announced to relevant units the commencement of the tree relocation project for the construction of Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong). The tree relocation package is valued at nearly 1.4 billion VND.

Of the 453 trees within the scope of the Metro Line 2 project, located along Le Lai, Truong Dinh, Pham Hong Thai, Cach Mang Thang Tam, Truong Chinh streets, etc., 404 trees were cut down and 49 trees were relocated. The trees that were cut down included: ironwood, monkey-faced trees, oil trees, crape myrtle, tamarind, black star trees, etc.

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The trees along Truong Chinh Street in Tan Phu District (Ho Chi Minh City) are slated for relocation or felling to make way for the Metro Line 2 project. Photo: Tuan Kiet.

According to MAUR, the relocation and felling of trees to facilitate the relocation of underground infrastructure for the Metro Line 2 project will be divided into two phases.

Phase 1 will involve cutting down or relocating some trees within the construction area of ​​the technical infrastructure system. Trees located on existing sidewalks within the station area that do not affect the construction process will be temporarily retained to provide shade for the section of the route while awaiting the construction of the underground station.

This work is expected to begin in April and be completed before July 31st.

In phase 2, before the construction of the main station, all trees within the land acquisition boundary will be cut down or relocated, while trees outside the land acquisition boundary will be protected.

The Metro Line 2 project (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong) was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee in 2010 and its adjustments were approved in 2019 with a total investment of over 47,890 billion VND, using ODA loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the German Reconstruction Bank (KfW), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and counterpart funds from the budget.

The entire project spans over 11km (including over 9km of underground section and nearly 2km of elevated section) with 10 stations (9 underground stations and 1 elevated station).

Previously, this line was expected to be completed in 2026, but due to various obstacles, the deadline has been extended to 2030.

Details of the plan for Metro Line 1 to begin commercial operation in Q4/2024: The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board has set a deadline for completion and commercial operation of Metro Line 1 in Q4/2024.