The city will start construction on Phase V Metro projects that involve 10 lines spanning 185 kilometers at the end of the month, a source from Live Shenzhen, the official WeChat account of the Information Office of the Shenzhen Municipal Government showed yesterday.

The 10 lines include Line 15, Phase I of Line 17, Phase I of lines 19, 22, 25, 27, 29 and 32, as well as Phase II of Line 20, the eastern extension of Line 10, and the northern extension of Line 11.

The projects’ total investment is budgeted at 195.2 billion yuan (US$26.98 billion).

Currently, Shenzhen boasts 16 operational Metro lines that cover a distance of 547 kilometers.

With the initiation of Phase V projects, the city aims to enhance regional connectivity. Lines 19 and 32 will greatly improve the Metro service in Pingshan and Dapeng New Area, putting an end to Dapeng’s history of having no Metro service. Additionally, lines 17, 22, 25 and 27 will enhance connectivity between the CBDs of Futian, Luohu and Longhua districts. Lines 15, 20 and 29 will further strengthen the Metro network in Bao’an and Qianhai areas. Line 10’s eastern extension and Line 11’s northern extension will bolster connectivity between Shenzhen and Dongguan.

The Phase V Metro lines will play a vital role in supporting the development of the city’s 21 key areas for development and 20 advanced manufacturing industrial parks. For example, Line 15 will facilitate the growth of the Xili High-speed Railway Transport Hub and X-Lake Sciensity. Line 25 will serve the Dalang Garment Base in Longhua and Shiyan Advanced Manufacturing Industrial Park. Overall, the Phase V Metro network is projected to cover 85% of the key areas and 80% of the advanced manufacturing parks.

The Metro lines will also provide links to key enterprises and projects such as Tencent Internet+ Future Science City, Honor’s headquarters, and the headquarters of the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.

The expanded Metro network will also significantly improve accessibility to medical institutions, cultural and sporting facilities, housing compounds, and public spaces. Line 19 will cover Pingshan High School Park, while Line 27 will connect with the Southern University of Science and Technology and the University Town Sports Center of Shenzhen.

Upon the completion of the Phase V projects in 2028, the city’s Metro network will span a total distance of 831 kilometers, ranking fifth among major Chinese cities.