London, Feb. 13: The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has announced plans for increasing the congestion charge for gas-guzzling cars in the city.

According to local dailies, drivers of petrol-guzzling cars will have to pay 25 pounds a day to enter Central London, triple the current general congestion charge. The most fuel efficient vehicles will be allowed in free.

Livingstone introduced the daily congestion charge on trucks in 2003 to cut traffic and pollution, and today he said the revised rate is primarily aimed at the big cars owned by people in wealthy parts of the capital such as Chelsea.

The mayor, who has the power to make the change without legislative approval, said it will go into effect on October 27.

He said that cars that produce more than 225 grams of carbon emissions per kilometre will pay the 25 pound fee on entering the centre of the capital during weekdays.

Livingstone said that 17 per cent of the cars that visit central London each day - or about 33,000 - will pay the 25 pounds, two per cent will go free, and the remaining 81 per cent will continue to pay eight pounds. (ANI)