Authorities in southern metropolis Guangzhou have earmarked 30.7 billion yuan (US$3.8 billion) for key project construction this year, with top priority given to transport and sports facilities.

Sources with Guangzhou Development and Reform Commission said that the respective budgets for transport and sports facility construction this year are about 20 billion yuan (US$2.5 billion) and 4.47 billion yuan (US$558.7 million).

In terms of transport spending, the city will improve its airport, ports, railway stations, expressways, bus and metro services after this year, said Xian Weixiong, head of the municipal communication commission.

Construction of new metro lines and expressways will be given priority, Xian said.

Twelve new expressways will run through the southern and northern parts of the city and link other cities in the Pearl River Delta area. Work will begin later this year.

Meanwhile, metro lines under construction this year total 113.1 kilometres, Xian said.

As this year marks the first year of Asian Games projects, the city will also begin construction of a range of sports venues.

The capital of Guangdong Province was selected by the Olympic Council of Asia in 2004 as the host of the 2010 Asian Games.

A total of six new gymnasiums will be built and 46 old sports centres will begin renovation this year.

In addition, the Asian Games Village will also begin its first phase of construction, with an investment of 10 million yuan (US$1.25 million).

Sources with the municipal development and reform department said that all Asian Games facilities will be completed by 2009.

Besides transport and sports facilities, the city will also invest more than 200 million yuan (US$25 million) this year to continue its natural gas project.

The project, with a total investment of about 2.3 billion yuan (US$287 million), is expected to be put into operation by 2010.

Another energy project, the liquified natural gas terminal in the city's southern district of Nansha, will also start construction this year, with an investment of more than 4.8 billion yuan (US$600 million).

Meanwhile, the city will start a new campaign to clear up the Pearl River, which runs through the city from west to east.

Official statistics show that a total of 500 million yuan (US$62.5 million) will be invested this year for environmental projection along the river.

Editor: Yan