Jane Chen/ Shanghai Daily news

Thirty-four families in Zhabei District moved their homes yesterday to make way for the northern square reconstruction project at Shanghai Railway Station.
They are the first of a total of 1,150 families and 51 corporations to be relocated for the project, part of Zhabei's master-plan for the greater railway station area.
As planned, the project, one of the city's five key renovation projects for this year, will relocate a total of 8,300-odd families and 300 corporations from six parcels of land  covering a total area of 25.9 hectares.
Shanghai has introduced a new relocation methodology in this project to help house those on low-incomes, according to Zhabei District Director Yin Hong.
Other than buying a new home with the government-provided relocation compensation, poor families can apply for low-rent homes from the housing authority.  They can draw 70 percent of their compensation fund to pay rentals and deposits on a 15-year lease.  When the lease ends, the families, if they want to continue their stay, may use the deposits to pay for renewed rental.
Director Yin said the government is working out ways to improve local people's living conditions as well as urban infrastructure with the mass relocations in mind.
The government will create a multi-level transport hub in the railway station area, featuring bus, metro, train, long-haul transport and elevated expressway.