SOME of the newly opened Metro line extensions have eased passenger traffic at major intersections and some subway lines, Metro operator Shanghai Shentong Group said yesterday.

The new sections on Metro lines 11, 12 and 13 went into service late last month, providing more options for commuters. Line 12's Hanzhong Road Station and Qufu Road Station now connect to Line 1 and 8, respectively, enabling riders to skip the People's Square Station — the city's busiest stop.

Over the past two weeks, the average passenger number at People's Square Station had dropped almost 15 percent from the 700,000 people it handled per day, Shentong said.