BEIJING - China aims to start operations of the middle route of the south-to-north water diversion project this year, the project's top regulator said Wednesday.

The project, one of the country's largest infrastructure schemes, is designed to take water from the south to drought prone areas in the north, including Beijing. Water will flow northward via three routes -- eastern, middle and western.

Total investment in the project last year reached 40.5 billion yuan (6.64 billion US dollars). The eastern route started operations in November and the most of the middle route is completed, E Jingping, head of the scheme's State Council management office said at a meeting.

The project will focus on operational stability, efficiency and coordination among multiple stakeholders this year, E added.

The middle route is expected to be finished in May, begin trial operations in June, and start full operations after September. The set up of the eastern route company will be accelerated and a detailed water diversion plan made.