An ambitious plan to build an underwater tunnel or a bridge across the Pearl River delta between Shenzhen and Zhongshan is back on the map after being shelved for five years for fear that it could scuttle the bridge connecting Hong Kong with Zhuhai and Macau.
The 30 billion yuan (HK$35.49 billion) project was included in the Guangdong government's 12th five-year plan, unveiled by Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua on Sunday.
Li Miaojua, director of the provincial Development and Reform Commission, yesterday said there was no timetable yet for the project.
She added that Shenzhen and Zhongshan had not selected landing point locations and Beijing would have the final say.
The idea was first proposed five years ago. It immediately raised concerns in Hong Kong about its possible impact on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai and Macau Bridge.
Li yesterday dismissed worries that the proposed link, which will run parallel to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, would affect traffic flows on the bridge or its revenue on the bridge which is scheduled to open in 2016.
The project highlighted rivalries among Pearl River Delta cities.