Economy

Beijing's new traffic rules trigger hot debate

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-11 15:35

BEIJING - Beijing will soon release a draft traffic plan that aims to ease the city's traffic gridlock problem, an unnamed city government official said on Dec 10.

The city government hopes to receive feedback from citizens and experts on the plan before making a final one.

The official refused to comment on unconfirmed details reported by Economy and Nation Weekly earlier this month.

Related readings:  Coordination the cure for ailing road network  License plate rule keeps cars off streets  Beijing stuck in severe traffic jams  Beijing traffic seizes up under rising pressure

Some of the unconfirmed details are: -- An odd-even license plate restriction system in central Beijing; -- Car purchasers will have to have a parking permit before they are allowed to buy a car; -- A 2-yuan (30 cents) congestion fee will be charged on every liter of gasoline or diesel sold; -- Every household will be limited to purchasing one car.

At a meeting on Dec 4, Liu Qi, Party Secretary of Beijing Municipality, said the State Council has basically approved Beijing's traffic management plan.

But even before it comes out, the unconfirmed details of the plan prompted a rush of car-buying and hot debate among citizens and experts.

In the first week of December, more than 20,000 vehicles were sold, more than double the 9,000 vehicles sold in the same period of 2009.

Many buyers said they would buy cheap cars - priced between 30,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan - just to get a license plate before any restrictions are implemented.