Prague plans for low-emission zones in 2015

Prague, Feb 22 (CTK) - The Czech capital of Prague plans to introduce low-emission zones in 2015 to keep vehicles producing big amounts of pollutants from the centre, city councillor Radek Lohynsky has told CTK.

The city has had a feasibility study worked out that could be completed within two months, Lohynsky said.

"It is a cheaper measure than the introduction of a toll," he said.

Prague has long been fighting excessive traffic. It now has zones from which lorries above 3.5 tonnes, six tonnes and buses are banned.

Exceptions are only granted to vehicles meeting the Euro 4 emission norm, that is cars produced after 2006.

The government approved the rules for introducing low-emission zones earlier this month.

It will be up to municipalities to make a decision on the size of the zones and which emission categories entering cars must meet.

The average age of cars in the Czech Republic is almost 14 years. Over 60 percent out of the 4.6 million registered vehicles are older than ten years and one third more than 15 years.