Third phase after data analysis: Gopal Rai

Transport minister Gopal Rai on Friday said that the government will implement the third edition of odd-even scheme only after analysing report of its six-member committee and surveys of media organisations on the ongoing second phase of the car-rationing plan.

The government’s move came a day after the transport minister appealed to newspapers and news channels to conduct an open survey on the existing odd-even scheme, alleging conspiracy is being hatched to “sabotage” the scheme.

Last week, the government had constituted a six-member committee, headed by special transport commissioner K.K. Dahiya, to study the impact of the opening of schools and hot weather during the scheme and also suggest when the government should implement the next edition of the scheme.

“We have decided to analyse surveys of media organisations which have been appealed by the government to conduct open surveys on second phase of odd-even scheme through various modes like SMS, field survey and others. Besides, we recently constituted the six-member committee to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather in its second edition. We will analyse both surveys of media organisations and our committee’s report. Thereafter, the Delhi Cabinet will decide the fate of third phase of the scheme,” Mr Rai told a news agency.

The minister said that the Delhi government is strengthening public transport system by introducing new buses so that people won’t have to face problems in the next phase of odd-even scheme. Mr Rai on Thursday had claimed that many people are following the odd-even scheme, the second phase of which concludes on Saturday.