A multi-functional traffic complex for long-distance bus, taxi, subway and urban bus lines went into operation on Saturday in Shenzhen with the aim to ease transportation pressure in the southern Chinese city, the local traffic bureau said on Sunday.

According to an official of the bureau, the total land area of the station is 78,600 square meters and the station buildings have a floor area of 137,000 square meters. Total investment in the project amounted to 698 million yuan (96.4 million U.S. dollars).

Construction of the station, located in the central district Futian, started in Jan. 2005 and was completed at the end of 2007.

The station connects more than 30 urban bus and subway lines running across the city, with an ability to transport 350,000 passengers per day. Meanwhile, it is able to handle 70,000 passengers of long distance buses daily.

The project is part of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong special passenger transport line.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)