By Kim Jae-heun
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has scrapped its policy to exempt public transit fares during commuting hours on days when fine dust pollution is high.
The measure to tackle air pollution exacerbated by fine dust was put into effect three times: Jan. 15, 17 and 18.
Some say the city government wasted taxpayers' money by waiving transit fees for commuters using subways and buses during commuting hours, calling the measure only a temporary solution.
But others welcomed the move, praising Mayor Park Won-soon for taking the initiative in reducing fine dust problems in the capital.
Exempting public transit fares during peak hours was designed to discourage people from driving vehicles. A considerable amount of fine dust is believed to come from car exhausts.
Under the measure, riders could use the subway and buses for free between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Despite the free transportation, there was only a 1.8 percent reduction in traffic on the first day to the week before. The free transportation cost 5 billion won ($4.7million ) each day.
“The measure of exempting public transportation fares was an inevitable action we had to take when the odd-even vehicle mandatory ban was not revised to reduce fine dust emissions in Seoul,” a city official said. “It was a primer to induce a stronger measure from the government and we believe we have met the original goal of the policy. Now, we will move on to the next step.”
The city has introduced a new set of measures planned to cope with air pollution, focusing on imposing penalties.
The city will charge a 100,000 won fine for owners of certain diesel cars _ that were registered before December 2005 and weigh over 2.5 tons _ driving in the city between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on days the local government has issued “extreme air pollution” warnings.
The city plans to crack down on drivers of old diesel cars and vehicles causing serious air pollution with 37 enforcement systems and build a database of them. In the second half of this year, it will add 43 more CCTVs within the capital city.
However, to implement the policy, the local government has to build support through town meetings, city councils and other local governments in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, and it is expected to take effect in the second half of the year or next year.
The city also implemented a system to give a grade of one to seven based on vehicle eco-friendliness and limiting cars of the two lowest levels from entering central Seoul. Starting next year, they will be banned completely.