Construction on Shanghai's Metro Line 12 started today and is expected to go into operation in 2012, the city's Metro authority said.

The 40.4-kilometer line is designed to connect Minhang District in southwest Shanghai and the northern part of Pudong New Area after passing through Xuhui, Luwan, Jing'an, Zhabei, Hongkou and Yangpu districts.

The southwest-to-northeast line will have 31 stations, all underground, from Qixin Road in Minhang to Jinhai Road in Pudong.

Nineteen stations on Line 12 will connect with 16 other Metro lines -- Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 and the extention of Metro Line 5. Metro Line 15, 16, 18, 19 and Line 5's extention are still under planning.

Earlier this month construction started on Metro Line 13 and the second phase of Line 11. Both are to be completed in 2012.

By then, Shanghai will have a metro network of 13 lines, totaling 500 kilometers and capable of carrying nearly 8 million passengers a day – 40 percent of all people traveling on local public transit system.

Shanghai plans to build 10 new Metro lines between 2005 and 2012, stretching a total of 389 kilometers.

The Metro expansion is meant to encourage people to travel underground, ease traffic pressure on roads, and attract businesses to the suburban areas.

(Shanghai Daily December 31, 2008)