Today, August 27, Ulaanbaatar begins a 20-day odd-even license plate rule. This measure aims to reduce heavy traffic as the new school year starts. Officials hope the rule will lower congestion during busy hours in six central districts.
Before the rule started, city officials conducted a public survey. They asked residents if they supported limiting vehicle use by license plate numbers. The survey closed at midnight on August 26. After reviewing the responses, authorities decided to enforce the rule on weekdays citywide, with no zoning exceptions.
The restriction will last 20 days but pause on September 1, the first day of school. D. Badarsan, coordinator of the Capital’s Road Traffic Congestion Reduction Project, confirmed the plan. He worked closely with the Traffic Control Authority and the Traffic Safety and Road Transport Center. They finalized the details to ensure smooth enforcement.
The rule allows vehicles with odd-numbered license plates—1, 3, 5, 7, or 9—to drive only on certain days. These include August 27, 29, 31 and September 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15. Even-numbered plates—0, 2, 4, 6, or 8—can drive on August 28, 30 and September 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16.
The restriction applies daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM in the six central districts. Officials expect this schedule to reduce traffic during the busiest daytime hours. They urge drivers to follow the rules fully to avoid fines. Following the rules will also improve traffic flow and reduce travel times.
Officials say the odd-even rule is part of a bigger plan to ease city traffic problems. Ulaanbaatar faces growing congestion as more people use private cars. The new school year adds traffic because parents drive children to school, and commuters return to work after summer.
In summary, the odd-even license plate rule aims to reduce traffic jams in Ulaanbaatar. By alternating driving days, officials expect smoother travel and less stress on roads. This effort will support the city during the busy school season and may continue afterward. It hopes to improve daily commutes and life quality for residents.
