WUHAN, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kites, sky lanterns and balloons are among a series of low-flying objects for authorities to be alert for near railway lines in central China's Hubei Province.

Starting Monday, any organization or individual found releasing these objects within 500 meters of a railway line will face financial punishment of up to 50,000 yuan (7,685 U.S. dollars), said Li Dongsheng, head of the railway public security bureau in Wuhan City, the provincial capital, citing a provincial regulation.

"The environment surrounding railway lines has become a major factor in transport safety," said Zhuang He, a railway system official. "There were 12 cases concerning the safety environment of railway lines in 2017."

Wuhan is an important spot in China's expanding railway network. By the end of 2016, Hubei had 4,128 km of railway lines. The number is expected to exceed 6,000 km by 2020.