The construction of two huge residential projects to relocate residents in the area of the coming World Expo in 2010 started in Shanghai yesterday, 2,000 days before the opening of the event.

The 151-hectare Pujiang Expo Garden in Minhang District, is expected to have a construction area of 1.12 million square metres, including 870,000 square metres for residences and 250,000 square metres for public construction and commercial facilities.

The construction of the entire complex is to be completed in two to three years and the first batch of apartments are to be handed over next year.

According to sources within the construction unit of the project, the complex will be built according to the Italian style.

Up to 40 per cent of the area of the complex is to be green space and each household is to have some parking space.

"The project must be constructed into modern and beautiful new homes as a demonstration of the theme of the world expo - better city, better life," said Zhou Yupeng, vice-mayor and deputy director of the Shanghai World Expo Organizing Committee.

It is estimated that 15,000 households with nearly 50,000 people will have to be relocated to accommodate the expo. It is the largest relocation project in Shanghai history.

"The municipality has been greatly concerned with the relocation job, which will affect the success and significance of the expo," he said.

Another project started yesterday, the Sanlin Expo Garden in Pudong District, will cover 132.9 hectares in total, with 101 hectares solely for residential purposes.

The design of the area will simulate that of the Yuen Long area in Hong Kong. This residential quarter will have public facilities such as a shopping centre, a public transportation centre, cultural and entertainment facilities, banks, post offices and telecom services.

All the construction of this area is to be finished in the first half of 2006 and should be ready for the relocation.

Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Corporation and Pudong Real Estate Development Corporation are the construction units of the two residential areas respectively. They won a public bidding held by the Shanghai Municipal Housing & Land Resources Administration last month.

Experts and top officials of the city all agreed that the hosting of the world expo is another great opportunity for tge district of Pudong to achieve a leap forward in development.

Vice-Mayor Yang Xiong said the coming expo will kickstart a new round of massive construction and improve the quality of living of local residents significantly.

Source: China Daily