The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau yesterday announced temporary traffic rules designed to guarantee safe and smooth traffic during the 17th CPC National Congress which is held on October 15-21, according to the Beijing News.

On Monday morning, the traffic department issued temporary traffic controls for seven road sections in the urban district. Electronic screens have been installed at the northern end of the road to Tiananmen Square's west, northern end of the road to the Great Hall of the People's west, and two additional traffic hubs to navigate the traffic.

The temporary rules stipulate that in the controlled roads, non-public vehicles may share the traffic lane reserved for public buses. A traffic official encouraged the citizens to use public transportation and suggested private car owners try to detour controlled roads.

It is strictly prohibited to park vehicles unconcerned within 50 meters of the delegates' reception centers. The traffic department will intensify surveillance around the reception centers, congress venue, congress routes, Tiananmen Square, main parks, and long-haul bus stations by checking drunk driving or other driving violations. The violators will face hefty punishments, a traffic official said.

According to the announcement, twelve traffic schemes including peripheral traffic direction and emergency management systems have been in place to guarantee the traffic around the congress venue, reception centers and congress routes. Specific areas around the congress venue will be strictly controlled or used to direct traffic flow with eight parking lots where entry routes and parking directions are clearly marked. The traffic department will increase surveillance and have police stationed around 14 reception centers. The congress cars will be subject to a strict safety overhaul.

During the congress, the traffic department will shorten the stay time for non-native vehicles bound for urban areas by granting a 2-day traffic permit. Non-native trucks are banned from the central city (within the Fifth Ring Road). Non-native trucks carrying dangerous chemicals are prohibited form entering Beijing all day.

Beijing in coordination with six neighboring provinces and cities will strictly regulate the vehicles bound for Beijing, issuing related notices to industrial or residential areas located around the main Beijing-bound roads.

(China.org.cn by He Shan, October 15, 2007)