Ho Chi Minh City plans to put its first metro line, Metro Line No. 1, into commercial operation next July.

The project’s investor, the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), said that over 96 per cent of work has been completed, with the remainder expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The line underwent a full trial run on both its elevated and underground sections last month.

It runs for 19.7 km between Ben Thanh Station in District 1 and Suoi Tien Depot in Thu Duc city and has 14 stations, including eleven elevated and three underground.

The line allows a maximum speed of 110 kph on elevated sections and 80 kph on underground sections.

It has total investment of over VND43.7 trillion ($1.82 billion).