10 lakh vehicles to stay off Delhi roads

Nearly 10 lakh private cars will daily stay off the roads in the national capital once the odd-even formula is enforced from January 1, with the drastic reduction in traffic flow expected to significantly reduce the high-level of pollution in the city. There are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi.

“Around 10 lakh odd-numbered cars will go off the city’s roads on even dates and vice versa during a 15-day trial period,” a top official said.

The Arvind Kejriwal government is yet to decide on a policy for the large number of private four-wheelers entering the national capital from cities within its vicinity like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat. It should also take a decision also on the approximately 57-lakh bikes and scooters.

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has said that the government will come out with a final plan for the implementation of the odd-even formula before December 25 and strictly implement it in order to clean the city’s air. “DTC has been directed to engage private buses and school buses under cluster scheme so that people don’t face problems while using public transport from January 1 to January 15,” the official added.

The AAP government is studying Environment Protection Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Motor Vehicles Act to impose a penalty on those who violate the odd-even rule.

In order to accommodate the load of additional passengers from January 1, the Delhi government has decided to issue permits to 10,000 new autorickshaws by the end of this month. According to the transport department, there are currently 80,000 autos plying in the capital. 

This will be apart from the 6,000 additional buses, as earlier announced, to facilitate commuters during the 15-day trial period of the odd-even formula. All autorickshaws and taxis will be brought under one app to facilitate online booking easier.

The transport department has set a range of permit conditions for the plying of autos which include electronic fare meter fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) among others. It will issue a notification by next week allowing autorickshaws to ply in double shifts, the official said.