Parking in central Beijing will become more expensive under plans to reduce the city's traffic problems.

Drivers will now be charged up to 15 yuan ($2.2) per hour to park within the Third Ring Road.

"We have drafted a new parking price reform plan, centering on improving parking fees in central downtown areas," Wang Zhaorong, of the transportation management committee, told the Beijing News.

The final plan is yet to be approved, but the newspaper said parking spaces that charged 2 yuan per hour would rise to 5 yuan.

Meanwhile, some 5-yuan spaces would rise to 10 yuan and other fares would increase to 15 yuan per hour, the report said.

Prosperous commercial areas outside the Third Ring Road, including eastern and northwestern downtown area, would also see a price increase.

The plan would also make underground parking cheaper.

Ou Guoli, a professor with Beijing Jiaotong University, said the increase was overdue.

"We should make parking more expensive in crowded areas, reminding people not to drive there," Ou said.

Parking should be cheaper or free near subway stations to encourage residents to take the train, he added.

Beijing has 3.6 million cars and 5.25 million licensed drivers.

The municipal government has attempted to address traffic issues through programs such as banning cars with certain plate numbers from the roads on certain days.

(China Daily April 11, 2009)