Authorities in Shanghai are mulling over the decision to remove English names from street signs across the city and are asking locals about their opinion on the idea.

Currrently, road signs in the city have names written in both Chinese as well as English (Pinyin), and apparently Wang Weifang, Shanghai Road Administration Bureau Division Chief believes that the English translation of the street names are useless, according to Shanghai Daily.

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Wang said that the removal of English words from the signs will make room for enlarged Chinese fonts and characters on the signs, making it easier for pedestrians and drivers to read them clearly. 

He also pointed out that the English names will not be removed from all street signs in the city. "Of course we will keep the English-Chinese traffic signs around some special areas, such as the tourism spots, CBD areas and some transport hubs," Wang said.

There are reports that the bureau is seriously considering Wang's suggestion and have launched on online poll, which expiers on Aug. 30, asking locals what they think about the idea.

However, officials in Shanghai have denied the reports and the bureau was quoted as saying that the proposal was one of many on a questionnaire seeking the public's opinion and they decided not to go ahead with the idea, according to CRI News.

The report also cited an official saying that their intention was not to completely eliminate English from the road signs but to rectify the ones that have mistakes.

"Some of the English on the road signs in Shanghai have problems or even errors," the official said. "We want to amend the problems. We are currently simply soliciting public opinion on this issue. The work will be carried out next year." 

Tagschina, Shanghai, English, street signs, road signs, English road signs, English street signs, Shanghai street signs, Shanghai road signs