Ggn IT firms better prepared for Odd-Even 2.0

After a long weekend, the second phase of the odd-even scheme faced the acid test on Monday not only in Delhi but in Gurgaon as well, where corporations have been exploring ways to make commutation easier for their employees. This time, though, companies were better prepared.

In the first phase of the odd-even scheme, IT giant Nagarro had worked out a special internal database. “Based on internal surveys, we charted a database and made bus-route plans to pool employees travelling on similar routes from Delhi to NCR,” said an official of the company. The company now has a ‘Bus Pooling’ scheme for its employees. The company has also made in-house WhatsApp groups, where people know who is using an odd or even-numbered car. The IT giant has taken off-road at least 150 diesel cabs and introduced around 45 bus pooling routes with flexible timings on different routes in Delhi-NCR. Nagarro also has in place its own fleet of bicycles, which employees can book on a daily basis and come to work on it the next day. Reportedly, the CEO of the company too cycles to work.

Another IT firm, Genpact, has its own internal car-pooling app in place to make commuting easier for its employees. Besides, frequent shuttles from the office to Metro stations and back and a fleet of cabs for various routes in Delhi-NCR are also available.

Meanwhile, Snapdeal, Nagarro and Incedo, along with five other corporate firms, have started a combined bus-pooling service, with 44 buses running twice a day — from 8 am to 5 pm and 9 am to 6 pm in Delhi — to help around 960 employees. As per statistics, at least 1.25 lakh vehicles in Gurgaon will go off road as a result of the odd-even scheme. This however, will mount pressure on the public transport — that Gurgaon is presently lacking in. There are only 190 city buses, of which 19 travel to Delhi. 22,000 autos in Gurgaon run without metres and seem to have hiked prices during the scheme. In the last few months, 500 bike taxis and e-rickshaws were launched, which the administration believes will take a major load off the barely-there public transport network. Yet, the real test would be to manage traffic along the Delhi-Gurgaon borders, even though the Gurgaon police claim it is ready to tackle traffic-related problems within the city.

Other than the Sarhaul border, cops will also be positioned at the Kapashera and Aya Nagar borders, with teams manning them from East and West districts. However, no additional force has been deployed yet.