A new subway line is to open in Beijing next Monday, three days ahead of the National Day of the People's Republic of China on October 1, local authorities said Friday.

The No. 4 subway line, which runs south to north through the heart of the city, is 28.2 km long with 24 stations. It is expected to transport more than 400,000 passengers a day.

The subway project had passed inspections by local authorities in regard to construction, urban planning, quality supervision, fire prevention and environmental protection, and the new line would begin operating on September 28, a spokesman with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-rural Development said.

Currently, Beijing has eight subway lines covering 200 kilometers.

The city government plans to build more subway lines, increasing the total length of the city's subway system to 300 km by 2010 and 560 km by 2015.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2009)