BEIJING — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) on Jan 28 announced that the country's roads and highways will be toll-free for passenger cars nationwide during the Spring Festival holiday.

The policy will be implemented from Feb 11 to Feb 17, during which time many Chinese people will travel home for family reunions and then return to work.

Passenger cars with up to seven seats will be able to pass through tolls on roads and expressways free of charge, MOT spokesperson Wu Chungeng told a press conference.

This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb 12, with decreased passenger flows expected as the country tightens measures to curb the COVID-19 resurgence.

China is expected to see over 1.15 billion passenger trips during the Spring Festival travel season, which will last 40 days starting on Jan 28, according to the transport ministry.

The figure marks a drop of more than 20 percent year-on-year and a plunge of over 60 percent from the level in 2019, said the ministry.