While the Delhi Transport Corporation’s “MP Special” bus service launched by the Delhi government to ferry legislators to the Parliament found very few takers on Monday morning, the city government cl
While the Delhi Transport Corporation’s “MP Special” bus service launched by the Delhi government to ferry legislators to the Parliament found very few takers on Monday morning, the city government clarified that there will be no change in its notification on the odd-even car-rationing scheme to exempt MPs from the plan. The AAP dispensation however said that it will work to address their issues through public conveyance.
In view of the Parliament Session, the Delhi government on Sunday had announced six air-conditioned special buses to ferry MPs and appealed to them to follow the odd-even scheme. The “MP Special” buses ply from 9 am to 11 am and 5.30 pm to 8 pm.
In the morning, BJP MPs Ranjan Bhatt and Hari Om Singh Rathore availed the bus service to reach Parliament. However, BJP MP Paresh Rawal violated the odd-even rule by reaching the House in his even-numbered car following which he apologised to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s pet scheme came under a scathing attack in Parliament on Monday with members alleging it would “generate corruption” and was aimed at “insulting” MPs as they sought exemption from the scheme to attend Parliament.
“There are just four days left and by the time any change in the notification is effected, the scheme will itself end,” transport minister Gopal Rai said after a meeting with vice-president Hamid Ansari. “The notification cannot be changed now, but we will extend all possible cooperation. The government is cooperating fully for functioning of Parliament and that is why we have deployed special buses,” he said in response to criticism of the scheme by the MPs.
“Odd-even is not an issue of an individual or a government. It is being implemented to solve the problems of congestion and pollution faced by people in Delhi,” Mr Rai said, adding everybody should cooperate in its implementation.
The minister said he discussed ways with the vice-president to ensure the members of Parliament do not face any problem during the remaining days of the road-rationing rule.
The DTC is operating two “MP Special” buses each from North Block and South Block, and one each from Akbar Road and Ashoka Road.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta demanded that the AAP government strengthen public transport for both the common people and Parliamentarians alike, while alleging that public transporter DTC failed to cater to the MPs visiting the Parliament.
