Total Motor Vehicles In Beijing To Hit 3.35 Million By Start Of Olympics - Xinhua

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BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's motor vehicle total will reach 3.35 million in August, when the Olympics will be staged, according to sources with the Municipal government Thursday.

With a daily growth of 1,300 vehicles, the city is faced with increasing problems of congestion and pollution. Up to Tuesday, the city has seen a total of 3.23 million vehicles. More than two million of the vehicles are cars, according to the Beijing Municipal Traffic Management Bureau.

The traffic ban will be imposed during the Olympic Games, with the vehicle owners affected 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 the even and odd numbers on the license plates. Half of the many government vehicles in the city will also be off the road at any one time, but it is not known how many vehicles will affect.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/27/content_7870210.htm