Half of government cars in Guangzhou will be kept off the streets when the southern metropolis experiences heavy smog in the future, according to a draft plan to tackle air pollution in city.

The city's environmental protection authority that drafted the emergency plan said that the remaining 50 percent of government cars and the city's private vehicles will also be banned from driving on alternate days using an even-odd license plate number system.

Only around 25 percent of government cars are allowed on the city's roads when the city is affected by heavy smog.

Currently, just 30 percent of government cars in the city are required stay off the road on heavy smog days.

The draft is now soliciting public opinions.

The city's large number of vehicles is seen as one of the causes of the pollution.

Guangzhou, which has been limiting car registrations since July 2012, had 2.6 million registered cars by the end of last year. Only 10,000 new license plates are granted monthly via a lottery and public auctions.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn