TOKYO, Dec. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese government intends to revise practice on city layout to accommodate the nation's growingaging population, said the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Wednesday.

    Under a plan, welfare, medical and other public facilities are going to be concentrated in areas near stations and city halls, easily accessible to the elderly.

    The percentage of those aged 65 and over in Japan reached an estimated 19.1 percent as of Nov. 1, according to the government'sStatistics Bureau.

    The new plan will gather people and businesses at city centers and urban districts. At the same time, it will bring greenery backto areas surrounding the urban districts.

    In order to make full use of land, the government will also take measures to encourage doing business at home with informationtechnology.

    The central government will provide the local governments with subsidies on this matter. A total of 100 billion yen (917 million US dollars) is expected to be allocated in fiscal 2004 to begin inApril. Enditem