City should 'build more Metro lines in east SZ'

Zhang Chunjie, a lawmaker, speaks at a panel discussion Monday. Yang Shaokun

Deputies to the Seventh Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress suggested that Shenzhen should plan and construct more Metro lines in the city's eastern area, like Longgang and Pingshan, to meet the demands of commuting and enable connectivity with other cities in the Shenzhen Metropolis Circle.

So far there are only three Metro lines, namely lines 3, 5 and 10, running past Longgang. The network is 55.3 kilometers, about 14 percent of the total length of Shenzhen's Metro network. When lines 14 and 16, which are still under construction, are put into operation in 2022 and 2023, respectively, the total length of the Metro network in Longgang will be 109 kilometers, with a density of 0.28 kilometers per square kilometer, which is far lower than the 1.36 in Futian, 0.65 in Luohu and 0.63 in Nanshan.

The city's eastern region also lacks an express link to the city's west and Line 21, which links Longgang with Shenzhen University Town in Xili, Nanshan District, and Qianhai CBD, is still under planning.

"The city government should include the construction of Line 21, Line 17, Line 18 and extension of Line 10 into the construction of Shenzhen Metro's Phase V projects to support the development of eastern Shenzhen," deputy Zhang Chunjie said.

Line 21 starts in Qianhai CBD and connects Qianhai with important industrial zones including Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Zone, Banxuegang Science and Technology City, Universiade New Town and International Low-carbon City. Line 18, as an outer-ring express link of the city, connects industrial areas like Airport New Town, Guangming Science and Technology Town and Pinghu Transportation Hub.

"Line 10 will pass through Dongguan, if it extends eastward, but there is still no plan for that. It is an important line in the construction of the Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou Metropolis Circle," said Zhang.

Deputy Hong Xiaohong echoed Zhang's suggestion, saying the intercity Metro network and railways are the backbone for the formation of the Shenzhen Metropolis Circle.

"The eastern extension of Line 10 should be included into the city's Phase V Metro construction plan. It is of strategic importance for Longgang's development," said Hong.

For the intercity railway construction, deputies also called for expedited planning and construction to improve the transport system in the city's east and connection with Dongguan and Huizhou.