China's passenger flow will hit 2 billion trips during the 2006 Spring Festival holiday starting from the middle of next month, the National Development and Reform Commission predicted.

The figure will witness an increase of 3.1 per cent compared with the same period this year, sources said.

Authorities have asked for extra trains, buses, ships and flights to meet requirements of the huge flow.

Special trains will be arranged for students and migrant workers in the regions with a large flow of the two groups.

It is expected that 1.8 billion trips will use the roads, 144 million the railways, and 15 million will travel by air, commission sources said

Local governments are required to co-ordinate with the two major petroleum companies PetroChina and Sinopec to ensure oil supply during the peak season, especially diesel oil.

The Ministry of Communications, which is in charge of road transportation, requested local departments establish emergency treatment systems.

"Safety is of utmost importance during Spring Festival holiday," a notice issued by the ministry said.

Overloading and driving while tired are strictly forbidden.

The ministry also emphasized prevention and control of bird flu in transportation during the Spring Festival holiday.

The transportation period of Spring Festival, China's traditional Lunar New Year that starts on January 29, 2006, will last from January 14 to February 22.

As the most important traditional festival for Chinese, Spring Festival is an occasion for families to reunite.

For years, transport facilities have been strained during the season as throngs of migrant workers, college students and other Chinese flock back home and then return to the places where they work and study.

(China Daily December 22, 2005)