Beijing, 27th October: China plans to invest two billion yuan (about 238m US dollars) to upgrade the Sichuan-Tibet highway during the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000).

It is learned that the highway at present is not capable of carrying the traffic necessary to boost the economic and social development of both Sichuan Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Upon completion of the project in 1999, the 3,000-kin highway will be turned into a third-grade one (China's highways fall into four grades, namely. first, second, third and substandard)

Built in the early l950s, the highway is one of the three trunk highways linking Tibet with other parts of China. it has played a significant role in boosting the economic and social development of Tibet.

However, the road conditions are worsening due to the harsh geological and weather conditions, which make maintenance extremely difficult.

From: tibetlondon@gn.apc.org (Tseten Samdup)