One of the city's top seismology experts is pushing the local government to take immediate action to reduce the amount of noise generated by Shanghai's subway lines.

"When a subway train races by at high speed, it will cause neighboring constructions, including their floors, walls and pillars, to quiver and produce noise," Zhu Yuanqing, deputy director of the Shanghai Seismological Bureau, said yesterday.

Two weeks ago, Zhu submitted a proposal to the city government during the annual plenary session of the Shanghai People's Congress.

Zhu noted in his proposal that a noise test conducted by the bureau in an underground area close to the People's Square metro station on November 10 measured vibration level as high as 94 decibels, a little louder than a lawn mower or load shouting.

China's environmental policies recommend a ceiling of 65 decibels for noises in urban areas.

"Normally, the subway noise can affect an area of some 30-50 meters around the subway facilities," he said. "Those noises will disturb people and cause them to feel uncomfortable."

Wang Gang, a waiter working in a restaurant in the basement of Metro City in Xujiahui, said: "Our ears are always harassed by the subway noises. It's unpleasant though we have got used to that."

Zhu has suggested the city take steps to reduce the amount of vibration caused by passing trains, especially near preserved buildings.

He noted the cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province have both been successful in curbing subway noise.

In Shenzhen, subway constructors installed vibration-separating springs and rubber boards inside subway tunnels to reduce noise.

In a telephone interview, Wu Yi, general manager of Shanghai Metro Construction Corporation, said: "Our company has already decided to use various noise-reduction facilities in future metro construction."

He said the company is considering installing vibration-reducing boards below subway tracks to cut down on noise.

According to the company, the city will have built nine subway lines stretching 250 kilometers by the end of next year.

By that time, the city's subway system will be capable of handling 3.2 million passengers every day.

The city has announced plans to build 12 new metro lines by 2020 to augment its current five lines.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2004)