Ready for odd-even if severe levels persist: Delhi government

New Delhi: As lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday directed the Delhi government to prepare for rolling out the car-rationing scheme, the transport minister said that the city government was prepared to roll out the odd-even scheme if air pollution levels persist in “severe plus” category for 48 hours. Transport minister Kailash Gahlot added that the two-wheelers will be exempt if the road rationing measure comes into effect.

Mr Gahlot said that he had directed the DTC to hire 500 buses on a short-term basis and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been asked to procure 300 buses to handle the rush if the odd-even scheme is launched. The AAP government has asked IGL to keep 1.5 lakh stickers ready for CNG-run vehicles which would also be given exemption during the odd-even scheme.

Mr Gahlot held a meeting with top officials of the transport department, DMRC, DTC, Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transport System (DIMTS) and the divisional commissioner regarding preparations for odd-even scheme. “The Delhi government is ready to roll out the odd-even scheme if air pollution levels persist in ‘severe plus’ category for 48 hours,” he said.

“The DTC has been ordered to float a short-term tender to hire 500 buses to accommodate public transport till March. The Delhi Metro has also been asked to hire 300 buses for 10-15 days to handle the rush in case odd-even comes into operation,” the minister said.

Two wheelers will be exempted from the scheme like the last two phases of the odd-even rationing scheme, Mr Gahlot said.

“But the number of exemption categories will be very limited this time. Around 5,000 civil defence volunteers would be deployed to manage the vehicles. Around 400 ex-servicemen will also hired to execute the scheme if it is implemented,” he said.

Sources said that the decision on whether or not to implement the odd-even scheme would be taken on Thursday.