The Guangzhou government has earmarked about 200 billion yuan (US$25 billion) to help improve city's transport infrastructure in accordance with the 11th Five-Year Guidelines (2006-10).

Xian Weixiong, head of the municipal communication commission, said yesterday the budget set for this year is 25.6 billion yuan (US$3.16 billion).

The city will see facelifts in its airport, ports, railway stations, expressways, bus and metro services in the coming five years, he said.

According to Xian, the second phase of the new Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport will be completed within five years, and will expand its annual passenger handling capacity to 40 million, and annual cargo throughput to two million tons.

Also to be completed within that time is the construction of six 50,000-tonnage multi-functional berths.

The first phase of the redevelopment of Guangzhou Port has made Guangzhou's port cargo throughput surpass 260 million tons annually.

Measures will also be taken to improve the city's bus and taxi services by promoting the increased use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel for vehicles, and improving the layouts of bus stops and terminals.

Another 20 bus terminals and 305 bus stops will be set up in the coming five years, and bus routes will be further modified to better link metro stops.

Xian added that more high-tech systems would be applied to public transport management.

Also in the plan are nine metro lines to be operational by 2010, with a total length of more than 200 kilometers. Metro lines under construction this year total 113.1 kilometers.

Xian added that Guangzhou's monitoring and dispatch system for buses and taxis was amongst the best in China and the existing promotion of LPG fuel for public transport vehicles has set a good example for many other cities to follow.

(China Daily March 2, 2006)