Beijing is to add more than 800 parking spaces in the city for cabs by the end of the year in an attempt to ease the difficulty of hailing a taxi in the capital.

Downtown areas, residential areas, hospitals, schools and traffic hubs such as subway stations will have more parking spaces designated for taxi, the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said.

More than 3,000 spaces will be provided exclusively for taxis by the end of the year, it said.

The capital will also set up more taxi dispatch stations in the downtown area to further ease the problem. The city added some 500 parking spaces for taxis last year.

The bureau said drivers of other vehicles occupying parking spaces designated for taxis will face a fine of up to 200 yuan ($32).