Tibet's fixed-asset investment in transport reaches $50.71 billion

(ECNS) -- The fixed-asset investment in transport in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has reached 339.949 billion yuan ($50.71 billion) over the past decade, said an official at a press conference on Thursday.

The total mileage of highways in Tibet jumped from 65,200 kilometers at the end of 2012 to 120,700 kilometers this year, said Dawa Ngodrub, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Traffic and Transportation Department of Tibet Autonomous Region.

In the past ten years, Medog County became the last county to gain highway access in China, and Ganden Township the last township to gain highway access in Tibet, the official added.

The mileage of the express highway in Tibet has increased from 38 kilometers at the end of 2012 to the current 1,105 kilometers, and a three-hour comprehensive traffic circle with Lhasa as the center is taking shape rapidly.

The department revealed that Tibet has achieved 125 million road passenger trips and 257 million tons of freight in the past ten years. There are more than 7,000 road maintenance workers in Tibet, ensuring the safety of traveling and material transportation.

Tibet adheres to green development. During the construction of roads and bridges, the occupation of grasslands, river beaches and woodlands has been be strictly controlled. The number of new energy buses and new energy taxis in the region has reached 85 percent and 67 percent respectively.

From January to June this year, a total of 9,458 farmers and herdsmen have transferred their jobs to the field of highway transportation in Tibet. The labor income has been increased by 63.7724 million yuan; by leasing machinery, farmers and herdsmen have increased their income by 120 million yuan.