Beijing may raise bus and metro fares this year

A Beijing official indicated on Thursday that the city may raise bus and metro fares in the second half of this year.

However, Zhao Lei, the vice director of the Beijing Development and Reform Commission, did not reveal any details on the extent to which the prices may be adjusted.

Zhao said that authorities may learn from the experiences of other nations or cities regarding their approach to public transport management and introduce different kinds of tickets, for instance, weekly and bi-monthly tickets for commuters.

At present, subway passengers in Beijing pay 2 yuan per journey, irrespective of the distance traveled. E-transportation cardholders can also enjoy a 60 percent discount if they board a bus in Beijing.