Beijing takes lead from London, Singapore as it plans congestion charges to curb capital’s huge traffic jams
Draft proposal calls for motorists to pay a fee depending on where they drive and how often they pass through certain areas in the capital, report says
Authorities in Beijing have completed draft plans to impose congestion charges on vehicles entering parts of the capital in a drive to ease congestion, according to state media.
The initiative could be launched later this year, other media reports said.
The city’s environmental protection bureau and transport commission had prepared a draft of the proposals, state-broadcaster CCTV reported.
The plans follow a meeting of the city’s political advisory body and government agencies on Thursday to discuss economic approaches to tackle the notorious peak-hour gridlock.
Mao Baohua, executive director of the Integrated Traffic Research Centre of China, a government-affiliated think tank, told the meeting that a daily congestion charge should be between 20 yuan (HK$24) and 50 yuan. “The aim of introducing the fees is to make it easier for citizens to travel around the city,” Mao said.
The amount was likely to be tied to where each motorist went and how many times they passed through specific areas, the report cited unnamed experts as saying.
Congestion charges are already enforced in cities such as London, Stockholm and Singapore. The schemes have generally proved popular, but have attracted some criticism over the added costs to motorists and the impact on businesses in the area.