This year, Xinjiang is expected to complete 450 billion yuan in key project investment, a year-on-year increase of 50%. Urumqi's annual planned investment is 242.25 billion yuan.
Recently, the reporter learned from the Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission that, as of now, the construction of key projects in the autonomous region is progressing smoothly and is expected to complete the annual target of 450 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 50%.
It is understood that in 2017, the investment completion of key projects in the autonomous region was better than last year, with plans to complete 450 billion yuan in major project investment and 130 new project start targets.
The reporter learned that among this year's key project construction in Xinjiang, livelihood projects are progressing well, with nearly 100 billion yuan of investment completed. Relocation project construction funds are fully in place, 13,822 housing units have started construction, 4,782 units have been completed, and supporting infrastructure and subsequent industrial development are being implemented simultaneously.
A number of key transportation projects have also made new breakthroughs. The G7 Mingshui (Xinjiang-Gansu border) to Hami Expressway has been completed and opened to traffic. The construction of 44 key expressway projects, including the G7 line Wutong Daquan-Xiamaya-Yiwu, is in full swing. Shache Airport has been completed and put into operation. Five continued projects, including Ruoqiang Airport and Korla Airport, are being accelerated to ensure completion within the year. The runway works of two expansion projects, Tacheng Airport and Altay Airport, are being sped up. The preliminary work for 11 new projects, including Urumqi International Airport expansion and Zhaosu Airport, is being expedited, and efforts are being made to start construction of the new Tashkurgan Airport and Zhaosu Airport within the year.
At the same time, investment in key projects in the capital is developing rapidly, with 691 key projects implemented and an annual planned investment of 242.25 billion yuan. Rail transit lines 1, 2, 3, and 4, old city renovation, and the Urumqi Ring Expressway West Line project are all projects worth over 10 billion yuan. The northern section of Urumqi Rail Transit Line 1 (Balou to International Airport) has officially entered the joint debugging and trial operation stage, and passenger trial operation will be realized in June next year.
The Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission stated that fully completing the key project construction targets set at the beginning of the year has added new impetus and vitality to consolidating Xinjiang's development foundation, accelerating industrial structure adjustment, strengthening economic strength, and promoting sustained and healthy economic and social development.
In April this year, various parts of Xinjiang held centralized commencement ceremonies for major construction projects. Ten prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and cities, including Ili, Tacheng, Altay, Bortala, Karamay, Urumqi, Hami, Turpan, Changji, and Kizilsu, collectively started 2,080 construction projects, involving industry, new materials, new energy, information industry, infrastructure construction, social development, and livelihood projects, with a total investment of 1,133.4 billion yuan and a planned investment of 351.9 billion yuan this year.