Beijing will add 2,000 new air-conditioned buses to downtown roads to relieve the traffic flow.

Around 30 new bus routes will also be launched, especially in busy areas near Beijing Zoo, Dongzhimen, Qianmen and Sihui.

Under the public traffic renovation project planned by the Beijing Municipal Government, an expressway for buses will be built this year in Haidian and Chaoyang District.

The local government hopes passengers taking the bus will reach 60 percent by 2008.

(CRI March 8, 2004)