Workers from China Railway 17th Bureau Group step up the pace on the Taiyuan Metro Line 2 in Taiyuan in Shanxi province on Feb 24. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]  

Taiyuan Metro Line 2 -- the first metro line in Taiyuan city and in North China's Shanxi province -- recently restarted the construction of its first phase, metro officials said.

A total of 72 workers have been involved in construction around the clock, while following strict health controls and work management amid the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. 

Officials said the north-south metro line extends 23.38 kilometers through the city. Major structures at all stations and shield tunneling between stations have been completed over the past four years. 

They said the line is expected to start operating at the end of this year, when it will then take only 20 minutes to travel through the city from north to south.