THE Shenzhen Metro Co. announced Monday (June 12) that construction on Line 2 of the city's subway system has begun. The new line, which will run from the Window of the World to Shekou West Railway Station, will be put into service in 2010.

The 13.4-kilometer Line 2, which will have 11 stops, will connect central Shenzhen with Nanshan District. It will allow passengers to transfer to Line 1 via the Window of the World Station.

Line 2 will connect major residential, cultural and business areas in Nanshan.

A boom in industrial and commercial developments in Nanshan, which has attracted an influx of new residents to purchase homes there, has resulted in a traffic bottleneck. The Shenzhen Special Zone Daily said 3 million people will benefit from the project as commuters using Line 1 or 2 can switch to the other line at the Window of the World after Line 2 is completed.

Nanshan residents who are eager to know whether Line 2 will pass by their homes will have to wait until the route is finalized by the end of the year. But according to a preliminary plan, Line 2 will stop at Shahe Road East, Science Park, Nanshan Commercial Center, Dengliang Road, Industrial Road 8, Zhaoshang Road East, Nanshui Road, Sea World and Shekou Passenger Port.

Line 2 will extend to Huaqiangbei in the future, according to a long-term plan for the Shenzhen Metro.

Editor: Wing