Preliminary work started on an 18-km extension of Nanjing's only subway line on Monday.

 

"Construction will begin before the end of the year if the geological studies prove the extension can be accommodated," said a spokesman for the Nanjing city government.

 

The extension will run from Andemen, the current southern terminus of the No.1 north-south subway line, southward toward Jiangning University.

 

The line will cost 6.92 billion yuan (about US$865 million) and will have 12 stops.

 

"All the subway stops and other civil engineering work are expected to be finished by August 2008 if everything goes according to plan, and the entire project will be finished and put into service on December 1, 2009," said the spokesman.

 

The No. 1 north-south subway in Nanjing began operation in September 2005. With a length of 21.72 km and 16 stops, the subway cost 8.5 billion yuan (US$1.06 billion).

 

Industry experts said that once completed, the subway extension will alleviate traffic congestion in the southeastern part of the city. Construction of the east-west No.2 subway line is also in progress.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2006)