ULAN BATOR, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator has decided to ban half the vehicles from the road starting Monday to Feb. 1 to reduce traffic congestion in the city.
Vehicles will be allowed on alternating days based on odd or even license plate numbers during the above-mentioned period, the municipal government said in a statement.
The decision came after roads of the capital city have become slippery due to recent heavy snowfall, and as a result, cars have been stuck on the roads for several hours.
For many years, traffic congestion has been one of the most pressing issues in Ulan Bator.
Ulan Bator was originally built to have 500,000 residents. However, the city is now home to around half of the country's population of 3.4 million.
Currently, there are 720,000 vehicles registered in Ulan Bator, and the number of vehicles in the capital city increases by an average of 50,000 per year, according to the municipal government. ■