Scientists are working on a system that will track the movements of Beijing residents throughout the day to help prevent gridlock on the capital's roads.

The so-called "dynamic travel information platform", which is being developed by the Beijing Science and Technology Committee, will follow 1.7 million cell phone users with real-time data provided by China Mobile.

According to a brief introduction to the project on the committee's website, the system will display exactly when and where traffic is heaviest at any given time, potentially allowing motorists and commuters to avoid congestion hot spots.

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However, Li, an engineer in charge of the project who did not want his full name used, told METRO that it has not yet been decided whether the public will have access to the service.

"The current purpose is to assist the Beijing government in making appropriate policies, such as the construction of proper transport infrastructure," he said. It is not known when the service will be up and running. "Due to technological difficulties and other factors, it'll still take some time to finish the information platform."

Li explained that China Mobile was chosen for the project because the company has a 70-percent share of the cell phone market in Beijing. "That means we'll get effective sample data," he added.

Although experts say the system will help ease congestion in the capital, some residents are not so enthusiastic.

"Radio stations already broadcast traffic conditions every day," said Xu Kai, 24, a postgraduate student at Beijing Foreign Studies University. "If it's just simply providing us with a picture for reference, the program isn't going to make much difference."

Xu also expressed concern about a potential threat to privacy. "Is it there to track me down?" she asked, before adding that she fears personal information could be leaked illegally, which would lead to more promotion calls from advertisers.

On the matter of privacy, engineer Li insisted that the program will not pose any danger. "It's not positioning technology. We're only collecting macroscopic information that will reflect the general population flow," he said.

"The technology won't be able to attain any detailed information."

Beijing Science and Technology Committee recently held a consultation meeting for experts to evaluate the program. Its official website states that many of those who attended approved the system and said it could be an effective solution to the problem of collecting accurate travel information.

Invited experts also suggested that China Mobile do more to open its data platforms and work more closely with transport authorities, according to the website. However, some analysts are urging caution.

"Privacy must be well protected," said Yang Hongshan, deputy director of Renmin University of China's urban planning department.

"More importantly, governments need to do more feasibility studies and cost-benefit analysis, so that those facilities and the money they spend on them won't become just part of an image project."