New business models keep emerging in transportation including online taxi hailing, online payment, and one-card system. But there are still obstacles for the internet-transportation integration such as policy environment, infrastructure and technology.

To solve these problems, a first-time program to promote smart transportation was jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transportation.

Aiming at integrating internet and transportation in China, it proposes multiple measures such as connecting mobile devices with transportation services and information, setting up a one-card system for transportation among major cities. It also proposes to build more smart transportation infrastructure including internet of vehicles and ships, additional Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, and train stations.

An official passes a traffic One-Card to a citizen in Langfang, north China’s Hebei province, on Aug 11.[Photo/Xinhua]

According to the plan, car and smartphone factories in China will be encouraged to install Chinese Beidou navigation satellite systems.

“A fair market should be created with an effective administration system in order to attract more private capital,” said Zheng Jian, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission. The plan says that market access of smart transportation will be eased and related laws and regulations should be optimized.

The program document says a modern and convenient smart transportation system will be established with efficiently-allocated transportation resources, freely-shared information and more self-developed technologies.

“The plan has responded to the new appeal by stakeholders in transportation and provided precious opportunities for many companies that run related businesses,” said Wang Xiaojing, an expert of the Ministry of Transportation.