Saturday, September 20, 2008

Expo road work in fast lane in Shanghai

Nineteen of 25 Pudong road reconstruction and development projects associated with the Shanghai 2010 World Expo have begun, and the others will be kicked off by the beginning of next year, the Standing Committee of the Pudong New Area People's Congress said Friday.

Pudong has brought its investment in the 96-kilometer road projects to about 40.8 billion yuan from the planning budget of 11.3 billion yuan.

The rise in expenditures was caused by inflation, which affected labor and construction material costs, and an increase in compensation to relocated households.

Nearly all of the families and 88 percent of the companies involved in the road reconstruction and development program have signed contracts with the government to make way for the Expo.

Major road development projects that include reconstruction of the Inner and Middle Ring Roads and Pudong Avenue have begun.

Meanwhile, Pudong New Area government has simplified its approval procedures to speed construction. The government abolished 210 administrative charges to promote its service and improve efficiency.

In other Expo developments, Slovenia will use its pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo to demonstrate how it integrates its wide range of people and cultures, an official from the central European nation said yesterday.

Slovenia shares a border with Croatia, Hungary, Austria and Italy, and many people from those countries visit or live in Slovenia, noted Sasa Layic, the country's commissioner general for the World Expo.

Solvenia's pavilion will be themed "integration of diversity," playing up the country's scenery. Slovenia is known for its forests, mountains and plains, and with proper management, these elements make for a beautiful country, Layic said.

Source:Xinhua

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