By Xinhua
Beijing: The Chinese capital’s motor vehicle total will reach 3.35 million in August, when the Olympics will be staged, according to sources in the municipal government. With a daily growth of 1,300 vehicles, the city is faced with increasing problems of congestion and pollution.
Till Tuesday, the city had a total of 3.23 million vehicles. More than two million of the vehicles are cars, according to the Beijing Municipal Traffic Management Bureau.
A traffic ban will be imposed during the Olympics, with the affected vehicle owners compensated by the government, said an official with the municipal government. The government official said that the plan was being drafted and the amount of compensation has not yet been decided.
Automobiles, excluding taxis, buses and emergency vehicles, are to stay off the roads every other day in accordance with even and odd numbers on the licence plates. Half of the many government vehicles in the city will also be off the road at any one time. The ban is aimed to ensure better air quality during the Olympics.