BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has started building a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line connecting the downtown area with its new government center in the eastern suburbs of the city, Beijing Public Transport said Tuesday.

The 26.2-km BRT line has 16 stops and runs from the currently under construction Maquan station near the southeast second ring road to Tongzhou District, where a new government center is under construction.

The BRT line will include bus lanes, overpasses and underground tunnels, according to Beijing Public Transport.

As part of the capital's efforts to address congestion and pollution, the Beijing municipal government agencies have been moving their offices out of the downtown area to Tongzhou since the end of 2017.