BEIJING — Beijing plans to invest around 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) to improve public service and infrastructure in Huilongguan and Tiantongyuan communities, local authorities said on Aug 16.

According to Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, the city will spend three years improving functions such as education, healthcare and transport of the two densely-populated communities located in north Beijing.

Since 1998, Beijing has been building large areas of affordable housing in the area. Wang Qiang, deputy head of the commission, said that urbanization and the development of nearby Zhongguancun science park and a future science park had increased the population.

The two communities, covering 63 square km, currently have 863,000 permanent residents, and have long been plagued by traffic congestion and a lack of adequate public services.

According to the plan, by the year 2020, public services in education, healthcare, culture and sports will all be improved and a multi-layered road network will be set up to ease traffic.

The communities will also have a better water supply, drainage and power supply infrastructure by 2020.