Starting yesterday, work is banned at most of Shanghai's 8,000 construction sites from 10 PM to 6 AM, to reduce noise as students prepare for the national college and high school entrance exams.

The ban will be in effect until June 17.

Overnight work will only be allowed on about 50 key infrastructure projects, such as metro lines and elevated roads.

On exam days, all construction will be banned with a 100-meter radius of exam venues.

"Any local resident can dial 12319 to report construction companies that violate the rule," said Qiao Fuquan, an official with the city's construction management office.

Officials with the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau said they are in talks with district authorities and other departments about setting up an annual construction ban during the exam period.

The timetable will be published later for public input.

Though bureau officials won't give any figure on noise complaints at this time of the year, complaints about noise have historically topped the environmental problem list in recent years.

(Shanghai Daily June 1, 2006)