Beijing bus company will intensify oversight and maintenance efforts to make sure more than 14,000 buses run well during the Olympic Games, according to the city's public transport company.

"During the Olympics, inspection teams will examine and maintain key equipment on every bus before it starts service everyday. Every potential risk must be eliminated beforehand," said He Shuanghe, vice manager of maintenance department of Beijing Public Transport Holdings, Ltd.

"Each of more than 2,000 buses arranged to carry athletes, coaches and officials will be examined after service is finished," he said.

"Lots of buses with the most advanced technologies have been put into service, posing challenges to our maintenance abilities. But we are training employees. We are confident of reaching the goal of zero-malfunction," he said.

Beijing has started its "buses first" policy to incite people to commute by bus, a good, green, environment-friendly choice, amid efforts to ease road congestion and improve air quality ahead of the Olympics. The government plans to raise the number of buses to 21,000 by 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2008)