The journalist learns that, in face of 2014 Youth Olympic Games, on one hand, Nanjing is renovating integrative environment of the old town giving focus on roads and aquatic environment; on the other hand, Nanjing is expediting infrastructure construction revolving inter-city railways. 7 metro lines will be completed and open to traffic in 3 years and by that time, south of Hexi where the Olympics will be held can extend in all directions to main city and each new town via metro. 

In May, Southward Extension of Metro Line 1, Metro Line 2 and Eastward Extension of Metro Line 2 will open at the same time. Total length of urban metro will reach 85km and the underground railway will initially take the shape of a cross. Daily traffic is expected to exceed 600,00 people. And according to operation rule, when the metro lines form into a double-cross network, passenger flow will rocket. Nanjing metro system is planned as a radioactive double-cross shape. In the coming years, metro construction will intensify the double-cross shape to extend the city framework and make the metro play a core role in city traffic.

In the “double-cross” network of Nanjing metro, Line 3 is a vertical line and Line 4 is a horizontal line adding to the existing cross composed of Line 1 and 2. On Jan. 10th, two cross-river metro lines – Line 3 and Westward Extension of Line 1 were commenced. Line 4 that will connect Jiangbe, old town and Xianlin will be kicked off in 2012. 

According to sources of related department, Line 12 that will pass through Dashengguan is hopefully to be pulled ahead and link Jiangbei, Hexi and Ningnan through altering Ningwu Railway. By that time, there will be 4 metro lines going to Jiangbei in Nanjing. The difficulty of crossing the Yangtze River will be ultimately resolved by metro.

In the coming 3 years, Nanjing will also build Airport Light Rail of Metro Line 6 to connect the airport to South Nanjing Station. Geological exploration is to be conducted this year for Metro Line 6. Luhe Light Rail construction will also be expedited. In the current urban rail traffic network plan, the original Jianbei light rail will be promoted to a municipal express line, and named rail traffic Line 11. Big stops will be set up based on distinct strip intervals of Jiangbei area. This light rail line will extend northward to Jinniu Lake in Luhe, so citizens may be able to take the light rail to watch sailing boat competition of the Youth Olympics. Besides, light rail of Metro Line 1, extending northward to Yanziji and Metro 2, extending eastward to Tangshan and Longtan will be commenced in 3 years. (Xinhua Daily)