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Traffic congestion on Guomao Bridge in Beijing. The daily congestion charge could be between 20 yuan (HK$24) and 50 yuan. Photo: Reuters

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.

“London has had measures since February 2003,” Mao said. “At first the government charged [a daily fee of] £5 (HK$57) and then raised it to £8 and subsequently increased it to £10.”

Drivers stretch their legs during gridlock in Beijing. Photo: Simon Song

In Singapore, motorists are charged every time they cross into a set zone. Drivers in London pay a daily fee to enter the congestion charge zone, no matter how many times they travel in and out.

Polytechnic University associate professor Hung Wing-tat, an urban transport expert, said congestion charge schemes were viewed worldwide as one of the “most effective and stringent” policy measures to reduce traffic.

He said other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, which mulled similar rules years ago, might follow suit.

“But I reckon the price range is not fixed yet,” Hung said. “They should closely monitor the preliminary result to see whether they need to adjust the amount.”

A poll of 2,000 people conducted by China Youth Daily earlier this year found more than 53 per cent of respondents supported congestion charges, but 68 per cent said it was not enough to “root out” the problem.

Beijing is home to about 5.6 million vehicles, more than any other city in the country.

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