Beijing unveils key infrastructure projects for coming five years

BEIJING - Beijing has unveiled 10 major infrastructure construction projects for the coming five years to address some of the challenges faced by the overcrowded metropolitan area.

The projects cover transportation, water supply, sewage, the environment and green energy, according to a plan on Beijing's major infrastructure development for the 13th Five-Year Plan, released by the municipal commission of development and reform Friday.

From now until 2020, Beijing will improve and develop public and green transportation: subway and light rail track will exceed 900 km kilometers. In 90 percent of downtown locations, a subway station will be available within a radius of 750 meters.

Meanwhile, a network of 3,200 km of bike lanes will be built.

By 2020, 75 percent of commuters in the city proper will take green transportation.

To ensure adequate water supply for its fast growing population, Beijing will build or renovate 1,000 km of water pipes in the city proper.

In the meantime, the city will continue to promote water saving. By 2020, Beijing's consumption of recycled water will reach 1.2 billion cubic meters.

The city is also tapping new water resources, including desalination of seawater.

To improve the city environment, Beijing has plans for more parks and green belts, and will clean up major rivers. It will also replace coal with clean, low-carbon energy. Next year, fossil coal will be phased out in all six urban districts.

Beijing spent about 916.8 billion yuan ($137.26 billion) in the 12th five-year plan period from 2011 to 2015 on infrastructure construction, including a new airport, high speed railways, urban light rails, a south-to-north water diversion project, sewage treatment facilities, thermal power facilities and forest parks.