Beijing extends air quality rules adopted for Olympics

Beijing has decided to extend a scheme it devised for improving the capital city's air quality ahead of the Olympic Games, it has been reported.

Number plate-based measures designed to curb emissions from transport will be in place for another year, taking 930,000 of Beijing's 3.6 million cars off the roads on a daily basis.

The extension was granted because Beijing's air quality is improving, according to head of the vehicle management section of the Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau Li Kunsheng.

Since the adoption of the ban, which does not apply on holidays or weekends, daily emissions have fallen by ten per cent, informs the China Daily.

However, the rules have now been adjusted slightly, with the times being changed from between 6am to 9pm to 7am and 8pm on weekdays.

In February, head of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau Song Jianguo said that an increase in traffic is putting pressure on air quality improvement efforts in Beijing, Xinhua News reported.