Delhi govt will not extend odd-even formula beyond Jan 15: Gopal Rai

Read | Odd-even plan working: Delhi govt to Delhi HC

The decision was taken at a meeting of the coordination committee on the scheme, chaired by Rai at his residence. “The government’s move is aimed at motivating people to use cycles as part of its drive to make Delhi pollution-free,” he said, adding, “Anyone can see that if cars are reduced on roads, pollution levels will go down.”

The minister said there have been attempts to spread rumours that the plan was illegally imposed by the government, and claimed that under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, they have the power to implement it.

Under the scheme implemented on January 1, violators have to cough up Rs 2,000. A total of 5,893 challans have been issued so far. “Sub-divisional magistrates issued 2,912 challans, 2,260 were issued by traffic police and 721 by the enforcement wing of the transport department,” he said.

Read | Amity Gurgaon says pollution down in campus after start of odd-even run 

Auto-rickshaw drivers have also not been spared during the drive. “As many as 1,943 challans were issued by the transport department to auto-rickshaw drivers for violations, including refusal to ply. The government received 13,528 calls on its two helplines, 395 were related to complaints about public transport,” he said.

The minister added that additional teams will be deployed in areas such as ITO, Ring Road, Connaught Place, Mathura Road, Nehru Place and Dhaula Kuan to manage traffic. “Lackadaisical civil volunteer teams will be pulled up,” said Rai.

Rai said once the car-rationing pilot plan is wrapped up, the government will constitute a committee to work out further modalities of the cycle subsidy idea.
The minister also said the government will build cycle tracks and stands on roads. “Currently, there are no cycle tracks on main roads in Delhi. But the government appeals to people to at least use cycles in their colonies and mohallas, where they can easily ride them and where the possibility of accidents is lower,” he said.

(with PTI inputs)