Shanghai will build another two Metro lines to increase its overall Metro coverage to 500 kilometers by 2012.

The two lines, Metro lines 12 and 13, will bring number of the city's Metro lines to 13 and allow the system to carry eight million passengers a day compared to the current three million.

"When the system is completed, 45 percent of the city's commuters will choose to take the Metro," said Ying Minghong, deputy director of the city's rail transport construction headquarters.

At present the city has five Metro lines covering more than 140 kilometers but only 15 percent of the city's commuters use the Metro as their main transport system.

Until recently the city had planned a Metro network of 11 lines covering 400 kilometers by 2010.

In the city's plan, by 2010 Metro Line 12 will run 33.6 kilometers from Hongmei Road in the city's southwest, to the Pudong New Area, including 26 stations.

The Metro Line 13 will run 13 kilometers from Shanghai Railway Station to the rural Jiading District, including nine stations.

Ying, who is also the chairman of Shentong Metro Group, the city's key Metro investing company, said the entire system by 2012 would cost 200 billion yuan (US$26.7 billion).

Nearly half of that would come from the local governments at different levels, and the rest would be provided in loans by 11 bank consortiums.

He said World Expo 2010, from May 1 to October 30, is expected to draw 70 million visitors, with 400,000 passengers a day.

The city government is planning to transform Metro stations into exhibition venues of art, fashion and culture during the World Expo period.

(Shanghai Daily November 16, 2007)