Beijing Changes Work Hours To Ease Olympics Traffic Congestion

By Tham Choy Lin

BEIJING, July 14 (Bernama) -- Beijing is changing work hours for the next two months in a bid to ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution for the Olympics next month, and the Paralympics in September.

From July 20, public institutions will start work an hour later at 9.30am and close at 5.30pm while operating hours for companies have been re-set from 9am to 5pm, China Daily said.

Shopping malls will be opened from 10am to 10pm and close even later.

People are encouraged to work from home to avoid commuting in the capital which has more than three million vehicles.

Schools, administrative bodies and essential service sectors are exempt from the changes.

Beijing, which has promised a green Olympics, is still trying to clear its dusty air with the Games, less than a month away.

From July 20, less cars will clog the city roads with the start of an odd-even number car plates allowed on alternative days. Violators would be fined 100 yuan (RM48).

City authorities are encouraging the people to use public transport by opening three new subway lines, including the Olympic link to the hub of the Games this week, adding bus trips and longer operating hours, and special Olympic lanes.

-- BERNAMA