New Delhi: With the AAP government all set to implement the odd-even scheme, a member of ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hinted that two-wheelers, which have been kept out of the formula, may be included in the plan.
AAP MLA Adarsh Shastri told NDTV that if there are enough buses on the road, the city government may review the exemption granted to two-wheelers and they will have follow the rule too.
The odd-even scheme, mooted by the city government, will be implemented on a trial basis between January 1 and 15. During the 15-day trial period, two-wheelers, women drivers accompanied by children up to the age of 12 and CNG-certified vehicles will be exempted under the scheme.
"2-wheelers should not have been exempted. But we don't have an alternate commute available for 50 lakh two-wheelers, he said, adding that 'the Chief Minister has gone on record to say that we can evaluate after a week'.
"A ban on two-wheelers after a week is very much possible," he hinted.
Of 85 lakh vehicles in Delhi, 55 lakh are two wheelers.
Delhi govt to run 3,000 additional buses
The Delhi government has announced it would run 3,000 additional buses on the capital's roads starting January 1 in a bid to help commuters, considering the implementation of the odd-even-numbered vehicle restriction formula.
"A total of 3,000 buses will be added on Delhi roads from January 1," Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai told media persons.
Rai said the registration of 2,700 buses has been completed and the remaining 300 buses would be registered by Monday or Tuesday. "It will benefit 15-16 lakh people."
The Delhi government earlier vowed to add 6,000 buses on Delhi roads but it was changed after two-wheelers were exempted from the odd-even scheme.
Private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers will ply on odd and even dates, respectively, from January 1 here. According to the city government, the restrictions will apply between 8 am and 8 pm There would be no restrictions on Sunday.
Delhi Metro to scale up its services
The Delhi Metro has also decided to scale up its services from January 1-15 in view of the odd-even vehicle drive of the state government.
"From January 1 to January 15, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will run 3,192 total trips against 2,827 trips which it ran during the similar period in January 2015. DMRC will be using 198 trains daily to achieve these trips," DMRC's executive director, corporate communications, Anuj Dayal, said.
"Delhi Metro will be pressing into service the maximum number of trains possible operationally during this period keeping only the essential maintenance reserve," Dayal added.
The odd-even plan for four-wheeled vehicles, unveiled by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is aimed at reducing pollution in Delhi.
