As many as 48 new public bus routes will be opened and more than 528 new buses are to be put into use later this year, the local public transport bureau revealed.

Boosted by Shenzhen's burgeoning economy, more people have moved to the city in recent years. The current public bus network of 55 lines does not meet demand.

"The new public bus routes, along with the planned subway, will greatly improve the everyday life of residents and boost the investment environment," a bureau spokesman said.

Shenzhen has begun building two new subway lines to help ease traffic congestion. They will be completed by 2004.

According to the bureau, the new bus routes will run in the city's outlying districts to better develop the special economic zone.

A loop line will be established for the first time in Shenzhen.

There will also be routes to newly built residential areas and scenic spots, such as Dameisha, which is on the coast.

More deluxe and sightseeing buses will be put into operation and there will be a further 100 bus stops and 500 bilingual information boards along the routes.

Electronic information boards that will show exactly where a bus is will be put up in July to enable passengers to calculate when the next bus will arrive.

Work to improve the 182 busiest bus stops and combine 112 seldom-used stops is expected to be carried out soon.

A new set of transport integrated cards, or Yikatong, have already been put on trial. The cards can be used to pay for taxis, public buses, minibuses and subway trains. They will be widely available in a few months.

(China Daily 05/25/2001)