Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille has announced that approximately R750m ($54.2m) will be invested to ease traffic congestion in the South African capital.

The amount will be utilised over a period of five years to improve infrastructure along major routes, which are the worse affected areas.

Speaking at a summit convened at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), de Lille announced: "We will propose that the R750m is spent in accordance with a congestion management programme, a document that is being finalised to be approved by the council by the end of the year, and which prioritises the congestion points across the city and how we can begin to address this in terms of infrastructure, operations and behavioural change."

"We will propose that the R750m is spent in accordance with a congestion management programme."

The congestion programme will see a multi-pronged approach, which will include building better public transport system along with other initiatives.

de Lille added at the meeting: "In 2013, the TomTom global traffic index revealed that Cape Town is the most congested city in South Africa with a global ranking at 55th place.

"The survey also revealed that motorists are spending an extra 71% of their time in traffic.

"We are also the fastest growing city in the country with a growth rate of 30% as the 2011 census recorded."

The mayor said that R40m ($2.9m) has already been allocated to ease traffic congestion.

Part of the amount would be used to first address the traffic congestion problem at Kuils River area around Bottelary, Amandel and Saxdown roads, Kommetjie around OuKaapse Weg and Kommetjie Road, and the Blaauwberg area around Plattekloof, Blaauwberg and Sandown roads, reported Iol.co.za.

Problems at the M3, M5, N1 and N2 freeways, and the Waterfront and Foreshore will also be addressed.