An electronic map at the city's traffic management center shows most of the roads are hit by congestion. [Photo: Beijing News]

The city's population hit 18 million in January, while the number of registered vehicles exceeded 4.5 million in September.

Earlier reports had warned that the license number-based driving restriction would be futile in easing traffic jams once the total number of vehicles hit 5 million as expected in early 2011.

The report cited auto industry analyst Jia Xinguang who suggested that the government take measures to limit Beijing's growing population and increase city driving fees to deal with the worsening traffic problem.