Buried utility lines to get update

China will rebuild its underground utilities, including water and power supplies and heating systems, to expand urban carrying capacities and introduce more investment to boost growth.

Experts said they estimate the total investment needed for the rebuilding could reach 400 billion yuan ($64.4 billion) to 500 billion yuan.

Tang Min, former Asian Development Bank chief economist, said the initiative will become a major support to economic growth and add incentives to related industries such as cement, steel and other construction materials manufacturing during the continued sluggishness of the realty sector.