Area beneath Beijing CBD to be developed  

北京CBD开展“地下工作” 拓展地下空间最深37米

北京CBD(中央商务区)将开展“地下工作”，实现高层楼宇互连互通。

BEIJING (CNS) – The government will develop the space underneath Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) and its eastern expansion in Chaoyang District, according to Chaoyang's deputy mayor Wu Guiying on Wednesday.

On average, more than 80% of people abroad use public transportation in their CBDs, while only 60% use it in Beijing's CBD where serious traffic congestion regularly occurs, a problem that will be worsened by the new CCTV headquarters and further expansion of the area, Wu said.

Buildings in the core area of the CBD will be connected underground, which hopefully will reduce traffic on the surface, Wu said.

Each of the buildings will have five floors underground, with a depth of 37 meters. Only the first underground floor will be used for commerce, while the others will be set aside as emergency shelters, Wu added.

Short-distance subways in the CBD are also under consideration, she said.