Milan city is suffering from high levels of pollution caused by road transport, industry and coal-burning plants emissions.
The surroundings mountains have a worsening effect by trapping the noxious emissions.
In an attempt to tackle severe air pollution and traffic jams Milan municipality announced the introduction of a congestion charge by 1 January 2007.
Visitors driving by car into the city daily will pay a variable toll of around €2, ranging from €1 to €3, depending on the pollution emitted by the vehicle.
An average of 763,500 vehicles enter Milan daily and about 70 percent of them belong to non-residents. About 86 percent of the overall figure belong to private motorists.
The objective is to cut down car traffic by 30%. As in London or in Stockholm, the city plans to spend the revenue generated from the toll on improving public transport.