China will spend 620 billion yuan (82 billion U.S. dollars) building subways and urban railways in 15 major cities in the next ten years to ease traffic jams, according to the Ministry of Construction.

Around 1,700 kilometers of light rail systems will be built in the 15 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen and some provincial capitals.

Currently, there are only 22 urban rail lines with a total length of 602.3 kilometers in operation or in trial operation in China, mainly in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, according to ministry's statistics.

An official with the ministry said that 36 urban rail lines are under construction in 12 cities.

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