Suburban construction to be boosted

More government funds will be allocated to major urban development projects in 2013, and a large proportion will flow to suburban and less developed areas to ramp up their growth, the municipal economic planner said.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform recently released development plans, saying 240 major projects will start or continue construction this year, with more investment totaling 227 billion yuan ($36 billion), an increase of 27 percent from last year, the Beijing News reported on Monday.

To encourage balanced development, the municipal government will place greater emphasis on projects in the suburbs. The total investment in construction in the suburbs has reached 60.6 billion yuan, a little higher than construction carried out in downtown areas.

Investment in health care, education, social welfare and affordable housing projects will be increased by 39 percent to 55 billion yuan in 2013.

Among these projects, affordable housing construction is still the priority. Residents in the mountainous areas of Fangshan district, which is at high risk of natural disaster, will be relocated by the end of 2015.

Public transport will also be upgraded. About 55 transport infrastructure projects will either begin or continue this year, including the construction of a new airport in Beijing.

Meanwhile, 2 billion yuan has been earmarked to improve the water discharge capability of underpasses in downtown areas to avoid the type of mess caused by a rainstorm on July 21, 2012, which led to 77 deaths.