BEIJING - Beijing will speed up construction of subway lines and regional branch road networks to ease traffic pressure, according to the municipality's government report released on Thursday.

The city's mayor Guo Jinlong read the report at the fifth session of the 13th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, saying the city will open another four subway lines and construct 45 km of branch roads to form regional road networks to ensure the traffic flow this year.

Other measures will include developing rental bike facilities and improving bike road lanes.

According to the report, under the regulation of monthly lottery for new car plates put into use last year, the number of the city's annual automobile increase fell by 617,000 units, and the sales volume of autos dropped 44.3 percent year-on-year in 2010.

Three new subway lines opened at the end of last year, bringing the total length of the city's subway lines to 372 km, which also helped ease traffic pressure in the city.