The city will spend 560 million yuan (US$67million)building the largest long-distance bus station of 3.7 hectares in central downtown,Labor Daily reported today.

The station will be located near the north square of the Shanghai Railway Station.All existing long-distance bus stations in the area will be merged into the new one.

The construction will be started by the year-end and will finish within three years,officials said.

The station will be able to handle some 20,000 passengers every day with some 1,000 trips,officials said.

Of the total 560 million yuan,some a half will be used to relocate 1,400 families in the area.

The city has planned to open a long-distance bus center in the place since 1988.

( eastday.com Janaury 30, 2002)