Recently, in response to public concerns about the progress of Nanchang Rail Transit Phase III construction plan, Nanchang Rail Transit Group responded on the 'Nanchang Minsheng' inquiry platform — because the second round of construction has completed less than 70% of investment, Nanchang's new round of construction plan can only be submitted in the mode of adjusting the Phase II construction plan. This also means that the already-started compilation of Nanchang Rail Transit Phase III construction plan will be temporarily shelved.

Two rounds of construction plans approved

It is understood that Nanchang Rail Transit construction plans have been approved by the state twice. In July 2009, the first phase construction plan was approved, including Phase I of Line 1 and Phase I of Line 2, totaling 52.6 kilometers; in May 2015, the second phase construction plan was approved, including the east extension of Line 1, east and west extensions of Line 2, Line 3, and Phase I of Line 4, with a total length of 82.3 kilometers and a total investment of 61.09 billion yuan.

Up to now, Nanchang Metro Line 1 has been in operation for two and a half years, and the first section of Line 2 has been in operation for one year. Meanwhile, the latter section of Line 2, as well as Lines 3 and 4, are under construction.

In addition, according to public information, Nanchang Rail Transit Group began compiling the Phase III construction plan at least as early as 2017.

Investment completion rate below requirement

In July this year, the State Council issued the 'Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Further Strengthening the Planning, Construction and Management of Urban Rail Transit' (hereinafter referred to as the 'Opinions'), pointing out that cities applying to build subways should have general public budget revenue of more than 30 billion yuan, gross regional product of more than 300 billion yuan, and urban resident population of more than 3 million.

Regarding the implementation of subway planning, the 'Opinions' clearly state that in principle, only when the current round of construction plan is in its final year of implementation or the total investment of planned projects has been completed by more than 70% can a new round of construction plan be submitted for approval.

According to the 'Progress of Provincial Key Major Projects in the First Half of 2018' published by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the reporter saw that in Nanchang Rail Transit Phase II construction plan, Metro Line 3 started construction in December 2015, with a total investment of 21.58 billion yuan, and actual completed investment of 4.3 billion yuan, a completion rate of 19.9%; Metro Line 4 started construction in December 2016, with a total investment of 30.82 billion yuan, and actual completed investment of 2.62 billion yuan, a completion rate of 8.5%.

However, the east extension projects of Metro Lines 1 and 2 in the second phase plan have not yet started, and Phase I of Line 2 in the first phase plan is still under construction of the latter section, with an actual investment completion rate of 71.3%.

Therefore, although Nanchang's general public budget revenue, gross regional product, and urban resident population all meet the new subway application conditions, because the total investment completion rate of the Phase II construction plan projects is lower than the national requirement and it is not in the 'final year of implementation', the Nanchang Rail Transit Phase III construction plan is unlikely to be approved in the near future.

Adjusted routes yet to be clarified

In recent years, with the start of construction of Metro Lines 3 and 4, Nanchang citizens have become increasingly concerned about Line 5 and the north extension of Line 1. Specific alignment maps have been circulated online, but all were denied by Nanchang Rail Transit Group. It is reported that these alignment maps mainly come from the long-term planned routes in the Phase II construction plan report. From the schematic plan, this long-term plan is only a general direction without specific stations.

In response to questions from 'Nanchang Minsheng' netizens this time, Nanchang Rail Transit Group stated that it is currently carrying out the compilation of the Phase II construction plan adjustment.

The 'Opinions' point out that construction plan adjustments should be considered comprehensively after completing the mid-term evaluation of plan implementation, and in principle, no new projects should be added.

In July this year, entrusted by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, China International Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd. organized a consultation and evaluation meeting on the 'Mid-term Evaluation and Analysis Report of Nanchang Urban Rail Transit Construction Plan'. At the meeting, the expert group conducted a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the implementation of Nanchang urban rail transit construction plan and concluded that the implementation of Nanchang's construction plan is good, the construction of each line is progressing in an orderly manner, the project construction process is legal and compliant, and investment control is reasonable.

Therefore, the passing of the mid-term evaluation will make it possible for Nanchang Rail Transit Phase II construction plan adjustment to obtain national approval. As for how to adjust specifically and whether it involves 'long-term plans' such as Line 5 and the north extension of Line 1, Nanchang Rail Transit Group said that the route alignment must be clarified by the Nanchang Municipal Government before the report compilation and approval work can begin.