The construction of the New Yunnan-Tibet Passageway, another line to connect the area in southwest China, has been officially launched recently with the investment of 2.34 billion yuan(377.7 million U.S. dollars), Tibet Daily reported.

According to the Nyingchi Development and Reform Commission, the new passageway starts from Bingzhongluo Township in Gongshan County of Yunnan Province, crosses the Yunnan-Tibet border and enters Tsawarong Township in Zayul County of Nyingchi City, and ends in Drowagon Township of Zayul County, where it connects to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The total length of the main line is 280 km, 253 km of which is in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Besides the main line, a 42-km feeder road is expected to be built in Tibet with a projected speed of 20 km per hour.

The National Development and Reform Commission approved the project of the New Yunnan-Tibet Passageway in December 2013 and the Ministry of Transport approved its design proposal in 2014.

The traditional Yunnan-Tibet Passageway starts from Kunming in Yunnan and passes through Lijiang before reaching the Yunnan-Tibet border at Dechen County. It then enters Tibet passing through Markham and Zogang counties in Chamdo City and end in Lhasa. The total length of the route is over 1,300 km.

Completion of the New Yunnan-Tibet Passageway will shorten the transportation distance between Yunnan and Tibet, improve transport links, and facilitate trade and tourism.