HCM City inner metro system, funded by $2.65 billion of ODA loans, will go ahead as follows: northwest-southeast, 46.86 km with 44 stations; inner belt, 43.14 km with 45 stations; Tan Son Nhat, 9.3 km with nine stations; Hoa Hung-Ha Noi Highway-Thu Thiem, 21 km with 18 stations; Ben Thanh-district two-district nine-Thu Duc, 27.5 km with 18 stations; and Bien Hoa-Binh Chanh-Hoa Hung, 46 km with 42 stations. All tunnels will be 13.7 m-wide. Top priorities are the $316.5 million, 7 km-long Tan Son Nhat-Ben Thanh line including a 3.4 km tunnel from Sai Gon railway station to Ben Thanh market; and the $395 million, 6 km-long Ben Thanh-Binh Tay underground line linking the commercial centres in Districts 1, 5 and 6. Final design will commence this year with construction starting 2005. Visit www.vnagency.com.vn 09/01.