Kejriwal's odd-even scheme may soon be permanent

The Delhi government's odd-even scheme will witness major changes in the coming months. The scheme which allows cars having odd registration numbers to ply only on odd dates and the even number ones on even dates was a huge success in its first phase. The second phase of the scheme has begun and the real test of the second run in the national Capital will start from Monday since the roadrationing measure was rolled out in the city on April 15.

While talking to India Today Managing Editor Rahul Kanwal, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said that two wheelers will also be soon brought under the purview of the odd-even scheme. The scheme so far exempts VIPs, women, school going children, medical emergencies, commercial vehicles and CNG cars and two-wheelers.

"In the coming two months, two-wheelers will also be brought under the purview of the car rationing scheme," Rai said in the interview.

Unlike the scheme's pilot phase, in which the focus was more on awareness and voluntary compliance, the government has cracked the whip on violators this time, with over 2,300 challans issued in the first two days as against 479 during the same period in the previous phase between January 1-15. Even after facing criticism from the opposition parties, the state government is keen in making it a permanent scheme.

"The scheme has become very popular among the city people. People have learned to travel together. They are learning the concept of car-pooling. The government is seriously considering to make this scheme permanent," Rai said.

"If the people of Delhi will not support the scheme, we will take back the scheme.

The second phase has started because the people of Delhi wanted it to be there," he said. During the interview, Rai also mentioned that how the scheme has reduced the traffic congestion and pollution levels in the city.

The rules, whose violation attract a penalty of Rs 2,000 under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, are applicable between 8am and 8pm, except on Sundays. In the second phase from April 15-30, the government added into its exemption list people driving with school children in uniform.

However, the government has not been able to arrive at a solution to the problem of cars returning after dropping school children or heading towards the schools in the afternoon hours to pick them up, and suggested car pooling.

As Monday is the first full working day of the odd-even scheme, the government will not tolerate arbitrariness by any app-based taxi operator causing hardship to commuters. Ola and Uber will have to follow rules. "If we receive complaints against arbitrariness of any app-based taxi service, we will impound their vehicles," Rai said.

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