Guangzhou residents may pay one yuan (US$0.12) less for a through ride on the city's Metro Line 1 according to the fare adjustment scheme recommended by the subway company.

The authorities released three possible fares schemes for the Metro network Friday and a hearing will be held next Monday to seek public opinion on the new fares.

The Nanfang Daily reported that the base fare, under the cheapest scheme, will be two yuan, covering four kilometers. One more yuan will be charged for every four kilometers within 12 km, for every six kilometers within 24 km, and for every eight kilometers if a passenger travels farther than 24 km.

The present scheme has been in place for six years since the first Metro line went into operation in 1999.

The Metro company said passengers would be able to save one to two yuan on 25 percent of the sections on Line 1 and 2 after the introduction of the new scheme, which may cut their annual revenue by 2 percent. However, with the opening of the suburban lines, the new pricing scheme will attract more long-distance passengers.

The new scheme will need further approval from the city government before it can be implemented at the end of next year when Metro Line 3 and 4 are put to use.

Several hearing representatives welcomed preferential policies for long-distance riders, but some wanted bigger fare reductions.

Liu Jijuan, a passenger representative, said the reasonable fare for a through ride on Line 1 and 2 should be four yuan, rather than the present six yuan or proposed five. "People will pay four yuan (to cover the same distance) by riding buses, why should they pay more for Metro?" she asked.

She said her colleagues would rather change buses to save money, given the present salary standard in her company.

"Metro companies in many foreign countries get government subsidies, so that a cheaper price is offered for the convenience of citizens," she said.

Another passenger representative, Yan Jiahan, from a meteorology administration, proposed the Metro company offer 90 percent discounts for Yangchengtong cardholders during non-peak hours to attract more riders.

There will be 230 kilometers of seven Metro lines operating in the city by 2010, transporting 2 million passengers daily.

Editor: Donald