The Chinese government is no longer allowing its officials to enjoy government-provided cars. To curb excessive governmental expenses, officials are instead given allowance to cover their transportation costs.
The Chinese government wants to reign in governmental expenses by mandating government officials to be more prudent and simple in their lifestyle. To start this campaign, the government wants officials to take the taxis instead of using government-provided cars.
Official would be given monthly traffic subsidies, the rate of which depends on their positions. Bureau officials would get 1,300 yuan, officials at the director level would get 800 yuan, while officials at the section level would receive 500 yuan a month. With 1,300 yuan, bureau officials already have enough to travel 13 times by taxi from Beijing Capital International Airport to Guomao, which is one of the city's densest areas.
"I knew about the guideline and heard that the traffic subsidies had been enforced," an official from a central government department that was part of a pilot project shared to China Daily. "Maybe the money will be given out gradually. I haven't received any so far."
The cars that they were using were already taken as early as two months ago. The official shared that he has been instructed to take public transportation and think of more ways to solve the traffic problem. The official shared that he goes to work by bus instead. But under the new guideline, he is set to receive 800 yuan.
Another official from Hegang, Heilongjiang, said that this pilot project would be extended to local government departments as well. However, that would probably happen only once traffic conditions in each area are already assessed, as they are different from each other.