CNG cars to ply, no clarity on VIPs, female drivers

Announcing the second phase of its odd-even formula, the Delhi government on Tuesday said that CNG cars will be kept out of the ambit of the car rationing scheme, which is set to make a comeback for a fortnight from April 15 to 30.

The Delhi transport minister, however, said the decision on whether women drivers and VIPs will continue to be exempt would be taken by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after a Cabinet meeting.

“CNG stickers will be available from April 1 at a centre near CGO Complex at Lodhi Road. The centre will remain open from 8 am to 8 pm every day. Personally, I am in favour of exempting women, but opinion is divided according to the survey we undertook. We will put out the final notification on April 8,” he said.

The Delhi government will launch a publicity campaign, “Dilli bole dil se, odd even phir se”, on April 1 during which multiple communication channels — like television and radio and advertisements on buses and the Metro — will be used.

Mr Rai said he will write to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh urging them to create awareness of the guidelines of the road rationing measure under which cars with odd and even licence plates ply on alternate days.

Trial of the air quality monitoring system to be put in place during the 15-day period will begin on April 6, he said. Mr Rai said registration of additional buses to be pressed into service during the period has already started while the process to involve ex-servicemen, who are to be deployed along with civil defence volunteers, will begin soon.

“On April 13, volunteers as well drivers of Delhi Transport Corporation and Delhi Metro officials, among others, will assemble at the Chhatrasal Stadium near Model Town and take an oath to make the drive successful,” he said.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the coordination committee that comprises members of several departments of the government.

The first phase of the odd-even scheme was rolled out on January 1 for 15 days.

A committee headed by the transport commissioner has also been appointed to find ways to improve the app “Poochh-O”, which helps city commuters during the odd-even measure.