Private CNG vehicles may not be out of odd-even plan: Gahlot

Transport minister Gahlot says a final list of exemptions for the scheme is yet to be worked out

NEWDELHI: Delhi transport minister said the government is “seriously mulling” to include private CNG vehicles in the odd-even scheme this time and not exempt them like the last two editions of the scheme implemented in January and April 2016.

“We are seriously thinking of not exempting CNG vehicles in the upcoming odd-even drive. This is being considered mostly from the enforcement perspective as the traffic police finds it difficult to identify CNG cars from a distance despite the stickers,” said Gahlot. There are about 5.5 lakh registered private CNG vehicles in Delhi.

“Over the past few weeks, we will meet more stakeholders to decide on the final exemptions,” he said. The minister added that several delegations of women have reached out to the government seeking to be included in the road rationing scheme. Vehicles driven by women had been exempted from the scheme’s purview in the last two editions of odd-even.

Nearly 5,000 civil defence volunteers and 3,000 extra buses will be deployed by the Delhi government during the odd-even road rationing scheme that will be enforced from November 4 to 15. The decision was taken by the government on Monday after Gahlot held a meeting with all stakeholders to prepare for the drive.

Traffic police officials who attended the meeting said the police will identify major spots and intersections where their teams and civil defence volunteers will be deployed. While implementing odd-even on the last two occasions in January and April, 2016, the police had identified 200 such spots.

While the revenue department said it will deploy around 5,000 civil defence volunteers during the drive, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) informed that it will arrange about 3,000 private buses that will be pressed to service during the 12-day drive, a government official said. Delhi currently has only 5,454 buses against the required at least 10,000.

Since the fine, as per the amended Motor Vehicles Act, for violating the odd-even drive is Rs 20,000, the minister said the government will launch an intensive awareness campaign.

“Since the drive also includes vehicles registered in other states entering Delhi, we will put up boards and hoardings at all borders informing about the dates of the drive, what the scheme is and the penalty amount for violation,” Gahlot said.

The Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) which operates CNG stations in Delhi stated that it will design new stickers for owners of CNG vehicles so they can paste it on their windshield, in case such cars are exempted.