The tramline is likely to be constructed along Dongdaming Street in the North Bund area.

Local official Li Li said the restoration of the line, and its extension along the world famous Bund, will help lift the traffic burden from the city's busy Zhongshan Donglu.

Li pointed out: "Dongdaming Lu will not have busy traffic and the tramline will move visitors leisurely along the renovated scenic riverfront."

Striking a nostalgic note, Li, who is in his 50s, said: "People of my age still have fond memories of riding tinkling trams for a 3-fen ticket."

The proposal to build the line has been presented to the municipal government and final approval is expected later this year, he said.

Local transport experts had been calling on the local government to take note of both the restoration of tramlines in a number of western countries, and also the fact that trams are more environmentally friendly than buses.

The Municipal Planning and Development Commission has given the Planning and Construction Division under the Shanghai Urban Transport Bureau the task of conducting a feasibility study on 14 tramlines with a total length of 254 kilometres.

But Zhang Lin, a senior engineer at the bureau, noted that little progress had been made in this work as a result of dispute between its supporters and opponents.

Trams have far fewer ignition problems than buses and they produce far less noise and pollution. They have regained favour in some countries, but are not seen as a practical solution in built-up areas such as Shanghai due to the amount of land they take up.

The proposed line between the two scenic spots of Luxun Park in Hongkou District and Yuyuan Garden in Huangpu District along the busy Sichuan Lu will also cut across many major roads.

(China Daily February 25, 2003)