Shanghai's $185b urban rail plan to stretch beyond 2020

Shanghai has mapped out a long-term plan to build an urban rail network of 11 lines and 10 light-rail lines.

Officials say the 200 billion yuan (about HK$185.60billion) plan - subject to final approval by the central government - would be completed in phases to ease the city's severe traffic congestion and to facilitate its role as a financial hub.

Shanghai Metro Corp deputy chief engineer Jin Zhijing said: 'The total investment for the proposed network is definitely massive.

'We haven't worked out a final figure, but a preliminary estimate requires an investment of 150 billion to 200 billion yuan.' He said as this was a long-term plan stretching beyond 2020, the final figure was expected to be much higher.

The city government is looking to foreign investors to provide a third of the investment, with the remaining two-thirds coming from domestic sources, particularly the city government.

Mr Jin is in Hong Kong to attract foreign investors to some transport projects. He is accompanied by representatives of Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Design Institute, Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.

Hu Jialun, director of social development at Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, said: 'It is a plan we have drawn up to meet Shanghai's transport needs, and will be modified as we go along.' By 2005, two metro lines, two light-rail lines and a metro-light-rail line with a total length of 130 kilometres should be completed.