AT least seven Metro lines in Shenzhen will connect to neighboring Dongguan and Huizhou cities, according to a recent reply from the Shenzhen planning authority to lawmakers.

At the annual session earlier this year, Shenzhen lawmakers suggested that Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou cities speed up the construction of intercity transport facilities to provide convenience for people commuting between the cities.

In a response, Shenzhen planning and land commission said that Shenzhen is planning to connect its Metro Line 6 spur line and lines 10, 11, 14, 20, 22 and 32 with the Metro systems in Dongguan and Huizhou, in its rail network plan between 2016-2030.

In addition, the three cities will enhance their connection through intercity rails.

The spur line of Line 6 in Guangming New Area will be built along Guangming Boulevard, Guangqiao Road, Gongchang Road and will be connected with Dongguan Metro Line 1. Work on the line will start this year and be completed in 2022.

The spur line will be operated by Dongguan Railway Corp., according to the agreements signed by the rail construction and administration offices of the two cities.

Shenzhen’s Metro Line 14 will be extended to Huiyang, Huizhou. The line starts at Gangxia North Transport Hub in Futian CBD and ends at Shatian Station in Kengzi, Pingshan. It will be connected to the Metro system in Huizhou.

Shenzhen will have 32 Metro lines, including eight express lines and 24 regular lines, by the end of 2030. The system will cover 1,142 kilometers, four times the 285-kilometer length of the present eight lines.

Besides intercity transport facilities, the three cities will cooperate in the construction of housing.

According to the Shenzhen 13th Five-Year Plan for Govt. Subsidized Housing, Shenzhen will build 400,000 affordable apartments. Some of them will be built through intercity cooperation. The three cities will develop featured towns by integrating resources such as rail transport, industrial parks, apartments for talents and public facilities to solve housing problems for professionals in Shenzhen and co-ordinate development with Huizhou and Dongguan.  (Han Ximin)