New Delhi: Two days ahead of the roll out of the odd-even scheme, the Delhi government today decided to withdraw its earlier order to slap repeat fines of Rs 2,000 for each violation by motorists in the course of a day.
The decision was reached at a meeting Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi had with the state's Transport Minister Gopal Rai.
Bassi and Rai deliberated at length on how to ensure coordination between Delhi Police and the city government for effective enforcement of the ambitious scheme aimed at significantly reducing air pollution.
Rai said following a request by the Police Commissioner, Delhi government decided to reverse its earlier decision of slapping fine of Rs 2,000 on offenders each time they got caught violating the scheme during the course of the day.
It was decided that volunteers to be deployed by Delhi government will not act independently and be attached to either Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Traffic Police or enforcement wing of the Transport Department.
Bassi had yesterday said action will be taken against volunteers if they took law into their hands and engage in "vigilantism".
The meeting, called by Rai at the Delhi Secretariat, lasted for around 45 minutes.
Bassi said Rai has assured him that around 5,000 to 6,000 volunteers will be pressed into service to help police but they will act independently.
"The volunteers will not be acting independently. They will be attached with government teams, which might be headed by SDMs, transport department officials or teams of Delhi Traffic Police. The transport minister has assured us that around 5,000 to 6,000 volunteers will be at our disposal," Bassi told reporters.
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Rai said the earlier decision to impose repeated fines was to effectively deter people from flouting provisions of the odd-even scheme.
"In the meeting with Special Commissioner (Traffic) Muktesh Chander yesterday, it was decided to impose a fine of Rs 2,000 each time the rule is violated during the course of a day.
"However, the Police Commissioner today urged the government not to challan violators repeatedly, saying action can be taken in the second phase of scheme. In view of Police Commissioner's request, government decided to reverse the decision," Rai told PTI.
Earlier, the Minister had said a fine of Rs 2000 will be slapped each time the rule is violated during the course of the day. Bassi said any motorist found violating the restrictions will be asked to get his or her vehicle off the road and that under law the violators cannot be asked to return home.
"The common understanding which we have settled upon is that the person shall be asked to get his vehicle off the road. However, he cannot be forced to return home," Bassi said.
He appealed to people "not to lie" for 15 days as the entire scheme is based on common trust.
Bassi called the implementation of the scheme a challenging job but his force could have implemented the scheme even if they were informed about an hour ago.
"So, the time Delhi Police got to contemplate on the scheme was quite sufficient. Traffic management in Delhi, in general, has several dimensions. With the implementation of the scheme, one more facet will be added to that," Bassi added.
The odd-even scheme will be rolled out on January 1 initially for a period of 15 days and the Delhi government expects around six lakh vehicles to go off the city roads each day during the period. A trial run of the scheme will be conducted for two hours from 9 AM to 11 AM on December 31.
The Transport Minister said a centralised helpline number will be launched in a day or two which will provide all information pertaining to the road-rationing plan.
Commuters will be able to get all information including those about traffic restrictions and services of various modes of public transport.
He said strict action will be taken against autorickshaw drivers refusing fare or fleecing commuters.
"66 Enforcement teams of Transport department will be deployed at various places including near metro stations, railway stations and hospitals to ensure that auto drivers do not fleece commuters," said Rai.
He said it has been clarified to the representatives of Delhi Police that only civil defence volunteers will be deployed along with NCC and NSS cadres, who will work in close coordination with traffic police and revenue authorities.
"Their main role will be to create awareness on major crossings and they will carry placards and will not be authorised to stop any vehicles," said Rai.
Rai said checking teams will be deployed on wider roads and not in the vicinity of crossings so there is no disruption in the traffic.
Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and Divisional Commissioner will coordinate in respect of 120 traffic points to deploy teams.
"Tomorrow, all civil volunteers have to attend a briefing session at Chhatrasal Stadium at 12 noon so as to be aware about their specific role in the programme," he said.
The Minister said all sub-divisional magistrates will have the power to issue challans.
It was decided in the meeting that volunteers with teams of civil defence personnel will take rounds of certain areas and video record movement of vehicles wherever necessary.
