CHINA has recently approved 25 subway projects by local governments, data from the country’s top economic planning agency show, as part of the Central Government’s efforts to boost sluggish growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planner, has approved a total of 710.8 billion yuan (US$112.1 billion) worth of investments by 18 local governments to build city subways, according to statements issued Wednesday.

Most of the approvals came between June and August, according to the NDRC. The projects are expected to have an average construction time of 4.6 years, with local governments providing 40 percent of the funding.

The NDRC also approved 13 road construction projects submitted by 12 local governments, including the provinces of Guangdong, Jilin and Gansu, between June and August.

In addition to the road projects, the planner said it approved five port construction projects and two waterway projects, but didn’t provide further details.

China has significantly accelerated approvals for new infrastructure projects by local governments as it seeks a range of avenues to jump-start growth, which slowed to a more-than-three-year low of 7.6 percent in the second quarter. Recently released key economic data from the manufacturing, trade and industrial sectors added on to the gloom.

(SD-Agencies)