In a report sent to the municipal transport department and other concerned agencies, MAUR said that 404 trees would have to be cut down, and 49 others relocated to facilitate the installation of underground technical infrastructure.

"The underground stations of the second metro line are situated in densely populated areas, and we would need to cut down or relocate the trees to adjust the underground and surface technical infrastructure in these construction areas," MAUR explains. "Trees unaffected by construction will be temporarily retained to provide shade until the completion of the underground stations."

The tree relocation and felling work will be implemented between April and July this year.

Spanning over 11.20 km through six districts of 1, 3, 10, 12, Tan Binh, and Tan Phu, the HCM City's second metro line will run 9.20 km underground through nine stations and two km through two elevated stations.

The VND47.90 trillion (USD1.88 billion) project is funded by official development assistance and reciprocal capital from the city. Construction started last June and is expected to be completed by 2030.