Recently, the State Council issued the "Opinions on Strengthening Urban Infrastructure Construction", specifying six key tasks for accelerating the upgrade and transformation of urban infrastructure, including the requirement to build a relatively complete urban drainage and waterlogging prevention and flood control engineering system in about 10 years to solve the problem of urban waterlogging.

　　This is an important measure for the new government to coordinate stable growth, structural adjustment, and reform promotion, with the construction of weak links as the starting point, to promote the improvement of people's livelihood and the sustained and healthy development of the economy. It is also the first time since the reform and opening up that a document on urban infrastructure construction has been issued in the name of the State Council, which is of landmark significance.

　　The "Opinions" point out that strengthening urban infrastructure construction should revolve around the major strategic deployment of promoting new urbanization, effectively strengthen the scientificity, authority, and seriousness of planning, adhere to the principle of underground first and above-ground later, and improve construction quality, operation standards, and management level. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the investment and financing system, and on the basis of ensuring government investment, fully leverage the role of market mechanisms, attract private capital to participate in the construction and operation of operational projects, improve the urban living ecological environment, and ensure the safety of urban operations.

　　The "Opinions" require maintaining the integrity and systematicness of urban infrastructure planning, construction, and management, and resolutely eliminating the phenomena of "zipper roads" and manhole covers injuring people. On the basis of scientific planning and full demonstration, accelerate the construction of projects under construction, actively promote the start of new projects, and do a good job in reserving follow-up projects.

　　Key Tasks

　　[Underground Pipeline Network Construction] Strengthen the construction and transformation of various underground pipeline networks such as urban water supply, sewage, rainwater, gas, heating, and communications. Carry out pilot projects for urban underground utility tunnels. By 2015, complete the construction of 73,000 kilometers of sewage pipelines, and complete the transformation of 80,000 kilometers of old gas pipelines in cities and towns nationwide and 92,800 kilometers of old centralized heating pipelines in cities and towns in northern heating areas.

　　[Drainage and Waterlogging Prevention and Flood Control] Strengthen the construction of urban drainage and waterlogging prevention and flood control facilities to solve the problem of urban waterlogging. By 2015, important flood control cities will meet the flood control standards stipulated by the state. In about 10 years, a relatively complete urban drainage and waterlogging prevention and flood control engineering system will be built.

　　[Urban Sewage Treatment] Strengthen the construction of urban sewage and domestic waste treatment facilities. By 2015, all cities with established municipal status nationwide will achieve centralized sewage treatment, with an urban sewage treatment rate of 85%, a harmless treatment rate of domestic waste of about 90%, and a utilization rate of reclaimed water from sewage treatment facilities of over 20%.

　　[Transportation Facility Construction] Strengthen the construction of urban road traffic infrastructure. Give play to the backbone role of public transportation such as subways. By 2015, the country will add 1,000 kilometers of new operating mileage to rail transit. Actively develop large-capacity ground public transportation, and enhance the connectivity, accessibility, and convenience of the urban road network. Complete the safety inspection of urban bridges and the reinforcement and transformation of dangerous bridges as soon as possible. Strengthen the construction of facilities such as pedestrian crossings and bicycle parking.

　　[Urban Power Grid Construction] Strengthen the construction of urban power grids. By 2015, central cities nationwide will basically form a 500 (or 330) kV ring network framework, and most cities will have completed a 220 (or 110) kV ring network framework. Promote the intelligentization of urban power grids and improve the utilization rate of the power system, the level of safety and reliability, and the quality of electric energy.

　　[Ecological Garden Construction] Strengthen ecological garden construction. Enhance the functions of urban green spaces in flood storage and drainage, and replenishing groundwater. By 2015, cities with established municipal status will have built at least one disaster prevention and avoidance park of a certain scale, equipped with complete water, gas, electricity, and other facilities and fully functional.

　　Interpretation

　　70 billion yuan invested annually has not solved urban congestion

　　Qiu Baoxing, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said that in recent years, the country has invested 700 billion yuan annually in the construction and transformation of urban roads and bridges, but the problem of urban traffic congestion has not been fundamentally solved.

　　In order to improve the investment efficiency of urban roads and bridges and more effectively improve urban traffic, the "Opinions" propose that the next focus of urban road and bridge construction is to "accelerate the improvement of the urban road network system and enhance the density of the road network."

　　Regarding the "subway fever" phenomenon that has appeared in some large and mega cities, Qiu Baoxing said that this issue needs to be viewed objectively. At present, if all rail transit lines in operation, under construction, and approved for planning are put into operation, they will only be about 50% of those in some densely populated urban agglomerations in the European Union. There is still huge room for development in the planning and construction of rail transit.

　　Qiu Baoxing said that before urban residents have fully formed the habit of relying on cars for travel, it is necessary to seize the opportunity to vigorously develop rail transit, promote the development of public transportation, and accelerate the formation of residents' green travel habits.

　　Regarding the problem of "waterlogging whenever it rains" in some cities, Qiu Baoxing said that at present, the lack of urban drainage and waterlogging prevention system planning, imperfect standard systems, lagging construction of drainage and waterlogging prevention facilities, emphasis on construction over management, and prominent arbitrary occupation of river and lake systems are several important reasons for the frequent occurrence of urban waterlogging.

　　To solve these problems, the first step is to eliminate "black spots", requiring all localities to formulate countermeasures one by one for frequent waterlogging points (areas) based on the urban waterlogging situation in recent years, to alleviate urban waterlogging.

　　The second is to address the long term, requiring a systematic and complete package of solutions. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development requires all localities to scientifically compile plans on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of the current situation, follow the development and construction concept with the lowest impact on the urban ecological environment—the low-impact development concept, vigorously develop green buildings, start with the graded collection and utilization of rainwater by buildings, strengthen the retention, infiltration, and storage of rainwater, strengthen the construction of drainage and waterlogging prevention facilities and drainage channels, and strengthen the management of river and lake systems.