Shanghai, which is several steps ahead of China's other big cities when it comes to urban public transport projects, has rolled up its sleeves to extend the city's subway and light rail systems.

It intends to almost triple rapid transit public transport track by the year 2010.

There are now 145 km of rapid transit track in operation in the city but by the end of 2007, the figure will stretch to 230 km, said Jiao Yang, spokeswoman of the Shanghai Municipal Government.

Workers have been busy constructing eight track routes with a combined length of 200 km across the city. Three of them will be finished and put into service by late 2007, according to Jiao.

In accordance with the overall development plan, Shanghai hopes to have 400 km of rapid transit by 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)