MEASURES WILL SHUNT SUBWAY PLANS ONTO SIDINGS

Cities must meet higher standards to keep metro development on track or ambitions might face the end of the line

Cities have to meet higher standards in fiscal revenue, permanent populations and economic size to get approvals from the central government to build subways, said a recent guideline released by the State Council, the Cabinet.

The guideline, disclosed on Friday, is expected to reduce the number of subways to be built by city governments and help control local debt in the campaign to guard against major risks, including rising financial leverage, experts said.