(Yicai Global) Nov. 2 -- China's fixed asset investment in railways this year is expected to reach CNY800 billion (USD115 billion), eclipsing the CNY732 billion annual target.

China's General Office of the State Council made the projection in an infrastructure construction framework paper, adding that such projects should not rely on investment nor refuse investment as part of efforts to prevent fluctuations.

Infrastructure construction should focus on key areas and weak links, to improve services and strengthen the quality of supply, the office added.

Railway construction is aimed at expanding regional links, accelerating the establishment of high-speed railway networks, promoting major railway projects, and building railways in underdeveloped areas.

The construction of expressways has become increasingly saturated in China's coastal developed areas, a traffic engineering industry insider told Yicai Global, adding that the focus has shifted to high-speed railways, inter-city railways, subways and other projects. Investments in railway has surpassed that of roads, he added.

The Shanghai-Suzhou high-speed railway project was approved at the beginning of this month, and the Nanjing-Suzhou high-speed railway in eastern China's Jiangsu province started construction on the same day.

Western China is the focus of the new round of railway construction. The National Development and Reform Commission issued a document agreeing to build a high-speed railway connecting Chongqing, a major municipality in southwest China, and its Qianjiang district on Oct. 30.

The Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission convened on Oct. 10, to discuss investing CNY270 million in building the Sichuan-Tibet Railway.

China's investment in railway amounted CNY110 billion in September, and that of the first nine months totaled CNY572.3 billion, accounting for 78.2 percent of the annual goal.