New Delhi : The odd-even traffic scheme might be implemented in Delhi after March as the initiative requires some preparations, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said here on Saturday. “We might see the implementation of the odd-even scheme in Delhi after March. We have to make some preparations for this,” Rai told IANS.
The minister said the class 10 and 12 exams are also conducted in February and March, which is another reason to implement the scheme only after March.
Rai said the city government was looking at all aspects to implement the second phase. One of the worries of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is that the scheme might unintentionally prompt people to buy two cars which would only add to the traffic woes of the national capital.
The Delhi government had implemented the scheme on a trial basis from January 1-15 where odd-numbered four wheelers were allowed to ply on odd dates and even-numbered vehicles on even dates. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has asked Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to stop trucks travelling to other states from entering the national capital as the vehicles were found contributing to the high pollution level during the trial of odd-even car rationing formula.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that during the 15-day trial of odd-even car rationing formula, high pollution level was found in bordering areas but in inner areas of Delhi, the pollution level was not so high.
“There are thousands of trucks travelling to other states but enter Delhi. I have written to both UP and Haryana governments to stop such vehicles from entering Delhi and divert them to other ways,” the minister also said.
Rai said that he has also written to the Centre asking to monitor the construction works of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways. “If Eastern Peripheral Expressway and Western Peripheral Expressway are constructed on time, trucks travelling to Delhi will not need to come here and they will then use these Expressways,” the minister also said.
