Kick-starting the first day of the restrictions on the plying of private vehicles in the city, the Kejriwal Cabinet used different modes of transport — motorcycle, e-rickshaw, bus and car-pool — to get to work in the Delhi Secretariat. Complimen-ting the people of Delhi on the “success” of the AAP government’s odd-even formula, the city ministers also said that future implementation of the scheme will depend on people and how they respond to it.
City tourism minister Kapil Mishra was the first to arrive at the Secretariat on his motorcycle a few minutes before 9 am. “It took me just 20 minutes to cover the distance from my Yamuna Vihar residence to the Secretariat, which normally would take 1.5 hours on any day,” said the minister.
“There is a different scene on the roads and the traffic is less. I did not see any violator on the road. Since people are sacrificing, we will also be sacrificing,” said Mr Mishra.
“I could have driven in my odd-numbered car today, but I have decided to commute between home and the Secretariat for next 14 days on my motorcycle,” he said, adding that he was riding his motorcycle after a gap of five-to-six months.
Next to arrive at the Secretariat was deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who used his official odd-numbered car.
Mr Sisodia said the people of Delhi were participating in a “virtuous” initiative to reduce pollution, adding that he also did not find any even numbered car on the road. “People of Delhi have adopted it (odd-even) as their own mission and the government is just helping them. This is the ideal situation in this campaign,” he said.
Mr Sisodia hoped that during the 15-day trial period people will get used to the odd-even formula and will help in lowering high pollution level in the city.
The odd-even formula is being watched all over the world, and if successful, it could be implemented in other cities also, Mr Sisodia said.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who will car-pool during 15-day odd-even experiment, arrived at the Secretariat at around 10.45 am. He was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues — PWD and health minister Satyendar Jain and transport minister Gopal Rai.
