BEIJING, CHINA: Despite broad public support, Beijing is to lift driving curbs credited with clearing the city's smog and traffic during the Olympics, a city official said yesterday.

But Mr Zhou Zhengyu, the deputy director of the capital's communications committee, hinted that calls in support of the restrictions would be studied and future action could be taken.

The curbs, which have limited motorists to driving every other day, expire on Saturday.

The limits, along with a move to shut down construction work and close over 100 polluting factories in the region, have been credited with bringing Beijing the cleanest summer air in the past decade, officials say.

State-controlled media had publicised several surveys showing a majority of people supported making the driving curbs permanent, despite the inconvenience to many in the congested capital.

"This measure will end (on Saturday)... We have heard many calls and praises on this and other matters and are in the process of analysing this," said Mr Zhou.

"A lot remains to be done to further improve the traffic in Beijing. It's not going to be completed overnight or achieved by one single measure."

The Beijing Youth Daily had reported over the weekend that the city had decided to let the measures expire but that motorists would be "encouraged" to avoid using their cars one day every week.

A recent survey of 844 Beijing residents carried out by Capital View Research Co showed 55.6 per cent in favour of making the curbs permanent, the Beijing Youth Daily said.