As one of the country's first 10 pilot areas for construction of underground pipe galleries, Suzhou has set the goals to complete five pilot projects, about 34 km long, by 2018, and an underground pipe gallery network with a total length of about 193 km by 2030.

By the end of 2017, the first goal had been fulfilled ahead of schedule. As designed, nine kinds of pipelines and cable lines will be moved into the underground pipe galleries for effective concentrated management and protection against weathering.

Such achievements should be partly attributed to the support of the local government, which has founded a special leading group, established joint conference mechanism as well as adopted special policies to guarantee a smooth progress of the projects.

Related officials said they will continue the effort and even enhance it for the second goal.