Shanghai - The planned extension of Shanghai's magnetic-levitation (maglev) train line is running into resistance. Some residents on the new route of the high-speed train, which zips along an electromagnetic cushion above an elevated track, fear for their safety.
Others, who have to move because their homes are in the way, are worried that compensation will be inadequate.
A sign saying 'Notice of Demolition and Resettlement' is pasted to building No. 69 at the Plum Garden No. 1 housing development in the Xuhui district. An old man, who declined to give his name, gestured towards a group of his neighbours there and said: 'We're sad that we have to go.'
Talks on extending the world's first commercial maglev train line dragged on for years. All of a sudden, things are now moving quickly even though contracts have not yet been signed with German engineering giants Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, whose consortium, Transrapid International, designed and built the maglev train.
Thousands of residents in the districts of Xuhui, Minhang and Pudong have already been told that move they must. Many feel taken by surprise. Expressions of opposition have proliferated on the internet.
'But the government has ignored the protests of all the people who live here,' wrote residents of 1111 Shuyung Street in the Minhang district.
Shanghai aims to complete the extension before it hosts the World Expo in 2010. The current line, a little over 30 kilometres long, links the Pudong financial district with Shanghai's international airport. The 37-kilometre extension will go to the domestic airport, Hongqiao, via the exposition grounds and southern railway station.
According to unconfirmed reports, all the necessary permits have been obtained for the route. It will pass through heavily populated areas and is slated for completion by 2009. Approval of the 175- kilometre maglev extension to the neighbouring city of Hangzhou is reportedly still outstanding, however.
At Plum Garden No. 1, about 180 families on the edge of the development are affected. They do not have much time to move - the relocation period is from the end of January to the end of May. And they do not know how much compensation they will get from the Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co.
Displaced persons from other areas are already demanding more money on the Web, though. A meeting between Plum Garden residents and city authorities is scheduled for the coming weekend. 'We won't know until then whether we have reason to protest too,' the old man said.
People who will be living alongside the maglev extension are giving vent to fears of noise, vibrations and accidents in internet forums.There is even a special anti-maglev site at www.no-cf.org.
The main point of controversy is the safety distance of 22.5 metres, which to a lot of people seems too small. Many are afraid of possibly harmful magnetic waves.
'If we're uncertain, we should be resettled,' commented Sean Pan, a 30-year-old from Minhang, who complains about a lack of information. 'The government isn't telling us what its plans are,' he said.
Quite a few people would prefer to move. They are already bothered by noise from passing trains. Plum Garden No. 1 lies on the rail link between Shanghai and Hangzhou, and noise levels are likely to rise after the maglev extension is built.
'We should be relocated too,' remarked Wang Tianzhen, 63, who pointed to cracks in the ceiling of his home that he said were caused by vibrations.
Wang's building stands smack in the corner of the housing development, just metres from the tracks. After hearing about plans for the maglev extension last year, he sent a letter expressing his concerns to Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng. Wang enclosed a sketch showing that his home will be right next to the maglev line.
He hasn't had a reply yet.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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