Odd-even Day 2: Metro ridership, challans go up

NEW DELHI: Ridership of Delhi Metro increased by 5.69% on November 4, the first day of the odd-even road rationing drive, compared to October 31, the last working day for which data was available.

Data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) stated that as many as 58.36 lakh journeys were performed in its 389-km long network on Monday, when the odd-even drive began.

On Thursday (October 31) the total journeys performed stood at 55.22 lakh. The number for Friday was not provided by DMRC. The figure for Wednesday (October 30) was 56.32 lakh, officials said.

In a statement on Tuesday, DMRC compared the daily average of last week with the total journeys performed on November 4. “The daily average journeys performed in the past week (Mon-Fri) were 50.13 lakh. The journeys performed this Monday were 58.36 lakh, making Delhi Metro the most preferred mode of transportation,” it said.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said the second day of the odd-even scheme was “a successful one”. “The AQI has also improved significantly since yesterday. Today’s 3 PM data tells that PM 2.5 AQI was 58, the PM 10 AQI has been recorded at 139. The quality of air has improved drastically. The smoke over the capital has also been reducing day by day,” he said.

CHALLANS DOUBLE, GOVT SENDS SMSES

On Tuesday, the second day of the even drive, enforcement agencies issued 562 challans, nearly thrice the number of penalties handed out on Monday (274).