Beijing to curb private vehicles, whenever pollution peaks

In an attempt to check surging pollution in the Chinese capital, private vehicles with even- and odd-numbered license plates will be allowed to ply every alternate days whenever smog level rises, the state media reported today.
Beijing, where more than 5 million people own a vehicle, is often hit by extended bouts of choking, acrid smog, with heavy industries and car use among the main causes.
Under the new scheme, cars with odd and even licence plates will be banned from city's streets on alternate days whenever air pollution persists for three days, Xinhua news agency reported.
A four-coloured rating has been devised under the system for assessing Beijing's air quality, with red deemed the worst.

The system will be activated, whenever a red alert is issued for air pollution, the Beijing Municipal Heavy Air Pollution Emergency Response Programme said.
Thirty per cent of government cars of various levels will be off the roads, and schools will be suspended during such periods, the report said.

Two million more people would be relying on public transport system, whenever the red alert is sounded.
"The city will increase bus frequencies by 21,000 to 25,000 over all, and the subway operation time will be extended by half an hour in the evening," said Fang Li, Deputy Chief of Beijing's environmental protection bureau.

The authorities, however, are trying not to let the extreme situation arrive with industrial plants asked to halt or cut production, building construction, fireworks, and outdoor barbecues stopped; whenever an orange alert is issued.
As per Environmental Protection Ministry, air with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 300 is defined as "serious pollution" and an AQI between 201 and 300 as "heavy pollution.