Local transportation officials say they're weighing measures like levying so-called "traffic jam fees" and raising parking charges to ease increasing congestion on roads.

The charges would be levied on drivers in the downtown area, which is expected to control the number of vehicles on the city's busiest roads, said Zhu Weimin, captain of the Shanghai General Team of Traffic Patrol Police.

Zhu disclosed the idea at a seminar yesterday, when public transportation experts from home and abroad shared their experiences and suggested ways to improve the city's chaotic traffic situation.

But he did not provide details, saying the measures are being studied by the city government. "Our aim is to ensure there are no large-scale or long-lasting traffic jams across the city."

Experts at the seminar agreed it was impossible for an international business city like Shanghai to avoid traffic jams totally. "What we're trying to do is to limit the jams and ensure they have a minimal impact on Shanghai's economic development," Zhu noted.

Officials said they will also set up more guidance boards indicating current traffic situations to reduce bottlenecks, and more one-way lanes will be added to the current 457 such roads to help smooth traffic.

Li Fangping, a traffic expert from the US city of Los Angeles, suggested Shanghai set up more parking lots.

However, there are still problems that can't be solved in the short-term, officials admitted.

"Construction projects, increasing exhibitions and business exchanges, rising number of traffic violations, more cars from out of town, frequent accidents and breakdowns are among major factors resulting in traffic jams," said Zhu.

(Shanghai Daily October 23, 2003)