Tran, who leads the task force, urged Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the two cities to work closely together to build a comprehensive plan for urban railway development.

The MoT was assigned to promptly build mechanisms, policies and legal frameworks for the management and operation of the urban railway system.

Ha Noi planned to build 10 urban metro lines with a total length of 417.8 km while Ho Chi Minh City targeted to construct 11 lines stretching around 229.1 km.

So far, Ha Noi has completed and put into operation one metro line, the 13km Cat Linh – Ha Dong. Two other lines, Nam Thang Long-Tran Hung Dao and Nhon-Ha Noi station with a total length of 24 km are under construction. The Nhon-Ha Noi Station metro line is is expected to begin commercial operation since the middle of this year.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is building two lines - the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien and Ben Thanh - Tham Luong, with a total length of 20.74km. The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) is expected to start commercial operation in October this year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR)./.VGP