Delhiites not negligent, won’t buy extra cars: Gopal Rai

The Delhi government on Friday said Delhiites are not so “negligent” that they will buy extra cars to beat the odd-even formula even as NGT expressed such apprehensions.

The National Green Tribunal on Friday cast doubts over restrictions on private vehicles under the Arvind Kejriwal government’s odd-even formula, saying that it may even encourage people to buy two cars.

“You can live without food and shelter, but you need to breathe even when you are sleeping. I think Delhiites are not so negligent that they will do it (buy extra cars),” Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said. He said the odd-even formula will be reviewed after 15 days and the government will come up with ways to reign in those buying extra cars to beat the scheme. The NGT’s observations came against the backdrop of a volley of questions being raised including on security concerns for women and adequate public transport to deal with the situation.

“The odd-even scheme which you are proposing to implement what consequences is it going to have on traffic and pollution? What will be other measures which you propose to set up to make your plan a success. In our view this may not serve the ends which you are trying to achieve,” it said.

Meanwhile, Delhi government has decided to bring all autorickshaws and taxis under one app facilitating commuters to book them through smartphones during a 15-day trial of odd-even scheme. 

Rai said that PoochO app will be launched on December 22, a day when ‘Car-Free Day’ will be organised on Vikas Marg in East Delhi’s Lakshmi Nagar area. Rai on Friday held a meeting with representatives of city’s auto and taxi unions to roll out a plan so that people won’t have to face problems in hiring taxis and autorickshaws from January 1 to 15.