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Shanghainese oppose plan to extend maglev train line

A maglev train is pictured in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 25, 2006. Officials said yesterday they were seeking public opinion on plans to extend the train through the city. PHOTO: AP

Shanghai authorities suggested yesterday they might heed public opinion on plans to extend a magnetic levitation train through the city after weekend protests by residents fretting over possible radiation risks from the showcase project.

The government had no comment on a protest by hundreds of people on Saturday and smaller gatherings on Sunday of residents opposed to government plans to bring the high-speed train line through their neighborhoods.

However, a statement issued by the city government spokesman's office posted on the Shanghai Environment Bureau's Web site said the government had set up a phone hotline and e-mail address to gather "residents' proposals and opinions."

"City planning and environmental departments are very cautious and take these concerns very seriously," the statement said.

Work on extending the train that runs from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport into the city's outskirts reportedly was suspended last year after residents objected.

Shanghai's German-developed maglev line uses powerful magnets to suspend the train above a track and propel it at speeds of up to 450kph.

It is the world's only commercially operating maglev line.

Residents living along the planned route for the line's extension say they are worried about potential harm from radiation.

"The maglev would be about 100 meters from my home," said one protester who gave only his surname, Tao, out of fear of retaliation from the authorities.

"We feel like we'd be living beside a big microwave oven," Tao said. "My wife and I are delaying our plans for having a child until after this problem is resolved."

Although peaceful, Saturday's protest was unusually large for Shanghai, where authorities are keeping a tight lid on public dissent.

Police moved quickly to contain the protests on Saturday and Sunday by residents who gathered near the city government's main offices in People's Square.

"Oppose the maglev! Resist radiation! Save the children!" some in the crowd shouted.

Police in dark blue uniforms stood guard, announcing through a megaphone: ``Please leave the area immediately!'' according to film footage posted on YouTube.

"There was no clash with the police. This was just a casual walk. We were only expressing our thoughts," Tao said.

While the protesters said they sought to avoid provoking the police, some of those who gathered were taken away on public buses, several witnesses said.

The protests arose after the government issued revised plans for the project earlier this month that would entail running the train line through different neighborhoods, in some areas routing it underground.
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