Odd-even phase 2 from April 15 to 30 in Delhi, says Arvind Kejriwal

Women, 2-wheelers exempt

Asserting that an overwhelming majority of respondents were in favour of the vehicle-rationing scheme, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that the second phase of the “odd-even” scheme will be implemented in the city from April 15 to 30, and that women, some VIPs and two-wheelers will remain exempted from the restrictions. The Aam Aadmi Party government had conducted a public survey after introducing the scheme from January 1 to 15 to seek people’s views on reintroduction of the scheme.

The chief minister said his government was “seriously deliberating” on the idea of implementing the scheme for a fortnight every month, while admitting the city’s public transport was not capable of handling the huge passenger rush. “The scheme will be implemented from April 15 to 30. The board exams are getting over on April 12 and we will enforce the scheme thereafter. VIPs, women and two-wheelers will continue to be kept out of the ambit of the scheme,” he said.

Under the scheme, private cars having odd registration numbers are allowed to ply on odd dates and those with even numbers on even dates. “The biggest argument in favour of implementing the scheme every month for 15 days is that an individual will not face trouble for more than six or seven days due to the nature of the scheme. If Delhi’s people support us, it can be implemented,” he said.

The chief minister said the Delhi Government is procuring 3,000 new buses, including 1,000 luxury buses, which will ply from December as part of the efforts to ramp up public transport. He said a two-floor elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors will be built to augment the transport infrastructure. The Delhi CM said 275 out of 276 mohalla sabhas (street-corner meetings) organised by AAP MLAs and subdivisional magistrates favoured a return of the odd-even restrictions.

He said the government had got feedback from people through emails, missed calls, interactive voice response (IVRS) and submission of online forms. “We received feedback through over 1.13 lakh missed calls, two lakh IVRS responses and 9,000 e-mails,” said Mr Kejriwal, adding that 53 per cent of respondents wanted the scheme back as early as February 14.

He said only 1,800 people said they would buy a second car to beat restrictions and that almost everybody wanted no exemptions for VIPs. “But I want to tell the VIPs we will not fight with you as we are often accused of. We would like you to follow the restrictions as shown by the Chief Justice of India,” the CM said. The public feedback exercise was done between January 26 and February 8.

Although there was unanimity that the scheme managed to reduce congestion levels, pollution data by several agencies were contradictory about its impact in the first phase. The CM said Metro ridership had gone up by only 0.4 per cent but buses saw a seven per cent jump in the first phase. He said private buses will be deployed in the city like in early January.

Mr Kejriwal added about 500 retired military personnel will be recruited to enforce the odd-even scheme in April. He said most people wanted the exemption given to VIPs in January to go. He indicated he was not ready for this. “We will request VIPs to follow the (odd-even) system. But we will keep exemptions. The more the VIPs follow it voluntarily, it will be good.”

Earlier, speaking to a group of journalists at his residence, Mr Kejriwal said the odd-even scheme will be enforced only for short periods. “We can’t do it on a permanent basis,” he added.