SHENZHEN’S urban planning commission is considering extending Metro Line 24, which is still being planned, to Donghu Park in Luohu District to solve the poor traffic situation and mixture of pedestrians and vehicles in the area.

In a letter to lawmakers, the commission said it is trying to complete the planning for the Metro line so it can apply to the city government for approval before the end of the year, and it will create favorable conditions for the line’s construction.

Metro Line 24 is an east-west line linking major business and commercial clusters in Mawan, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Antuo Hill, Lianhuabei, Sungang Road and the Donghu Park area.

Donghu Park, the first and largest comprehensive park in the city, is a favorite place of Shenzhen residents. However, the traffic situation is poor and nearby roads are often congested. The nearest Metro station, Taian Station on Line 7, is about three kilometers away.

At the annual session of city lawmakers earlier this year, a dozen lawmakers suggested extending Line 7 to ease the congested and chaotic traffic at the entrance to the park. Yet the commission said it was not feasible to extend Metro Line 7 as Dongxiao Road, where Taian Station is located, is too narrow and crowded with buildings along both sides. It will pose a danger to Metro Line 5 as the station was built under the platform of Line 5. The relocation of buildings along the extension line is another factor in shelving the lawmakers’ proposal.

“It is regretful that Donghu isn’t covered by the city’s Metro network, although we have to consider the city’s overall rail network planning,” the planning commission said in the letter. The park is in the eastern part of Luohu, at the corner of Wutong Mountain, and it is cut off from the rest of the city by the elevated bridge of Yanhe Road North.

Among stations along the eight operational Metro lines, 14 access comprehensive parks, including Lotus Hill Park and Shenzhen Bay Park. (Richard Han)