China to add 30,000 km to railway network

China on Monday said its domestic railway railway system is expected to grow by 30,000 kilometres before 2020.

Minister of Transport Li Xiaopeng said one-third of the increased network will consist of high-speed rail, People's Daily reported.

Li noted that the total mileage of roads will be expanded by 320,000 kilometres during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

According to the comprehensive plan for the development of transportation, total investment in transportation during that 13th Five-Year Plan period will be as much as 15 trillion yuan ($2.18 trillion) of which three-quarters of that amount will go toward railways and roads.

Railway investment in 2017 alone is expected to reach 800 billion yuan. By 2020, China will have built a comprehensive modern transportation system that is safe, convenient, efficient and green.

--IANS

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