Experts fear smaller cities can't afford lines Following a surge in subway investment last year, construction of urban rail systems in China will continue to grow rapidly this year, which has caused some experts to worry about the financial risks it can pose to local governments. The total investment in urban rail plans approved last year reached nearly 1 trillion yuan ($ 160 billion), including 360 billion yuan for projects that have passed feasibility studies, which means these projects can start construction, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. In September, the commission approved 25 subway projects in 18 cities with a total investment of more than 800 billion yuan. Two months later, the commission approved the urban rail plans of four other cities -- Beijing, Nanchang, Fuzhou and Urumqi -- with a total investment of 135 billion yuan. Thirty-five cities in China were building subways in 2012, with an estimated investment of 260 billion yuan, accordi...
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