The southern city of Shenzhen is seeking feedback on a proposed policy to charge auto owners a fee to drive into congested areas during rush hours. Experts say the move is expected to improve traffic conditions and reduce pollution in the city. More cities might consider this policy as an alternative to letting cars with odd- or even- numbered license plates operate on alternate days. Our reporter Xiaoyu has more.

Congestion pricing is the practice of charging motorists a fee to access city centers or use widely traveled roads, bridges or tunnels, in order to reduce traffic during peak periods.

The charges have been effective in some cities around the world.

Lin Shenglong is from the Land Transport Authority in Singapore.

"The electronic road charging system is working very well in Singapore. The number of autos increases by 3 percent every year in our country, but the policy has reduced road congestion by over 4 percent."

Wang Fengwu is an official with China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. He says cogestion-pricing policies will do a lot of good if adopted.

"Experts in London told me the effects of the policy would be remarkable. Congestion in its downtown area has been reduced by 30 percent, while the air quality has become much better."

London and New York are leading the way with such policies. Local governments use the revenue from the fees to fund expansions and improvements to public transport systems.

The measure has reduced congestions in urban areas, but has also sparked criticism and public discontent.

Andrew Darrell, an official with the New York-based Environmental Defense Fund, says the fundamental solution to solving traffic problems is to develop the public transport system.

"To improve transportation in the city, congestion pricing is one choice. But from my tour in Shenzhen yesterday, the extraordinary investment in the subway system and bus system that the Shenzhen government is making, that is fundamentally the most important step."

Though many Chinese cities are discussing the feasibility of the charge, none of them has taken it into practice yet.

Xiaoyu, CRI news.