Beijing says it plans to build 11 new towns in the future, to accommodate 5.7 million people, according to local Chinese media.

The Beijing News quoted the capital's chief planner, Chen Gang, as saying on Monday that planning work for three of the 11 proposed towns has been submitted for approval by relevant authorities.

Chen, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, revealed the plan on a local radio program, saying that every new town shall be linked with a light track transit system and have good quality hospitals, schools and colleges, shopping centers, museums and recreational centers for the residents.

The planning commissioner predicted the new towns would be home to 5.7 million people, consisting of people moving out of the densely inhabited downtown areas, new dwellers from local rural communities, as well as those from outside the capital.

Grassland has been planned for every new town, with at least 18 square meters for every resident in town, Chen Gang said. Residents will expect to see a piece of grassland every 500 meters in every new town, according to the plan.

The city planner said that Yizhuang, which has been home to high-tech industries for some years in the capital, will have a light track transit system ready by the year 2008.?

(CRI January 3, 2006)