Odd-even set to return; CM to announce dates

The ‘odd-even’ scheme is “all set” to make a comeback in the national Capital, the dates of which will be announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that the government will make the announcement after reviewing over 11 lakh responses received from the public through multiple channels on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Minister  Manish Sisodia suggested that the license plate policy will be back “once again” while sources said that its next phase could be enforced in April after the CBSE Board examinations.

“The scheme is all set to make a comeback. Ministers including the Chief Minister will announce the dates in a press conference tomorrow (Thursday),” sources said.

Earlier, Rai tweeted, “Delhi government will take a decision on the future of odd-even on Thursday. The public feedback report is being prepared on Wednesday.” 

The road rationing experiment, aimed at curbing air pollution in the metropolis, was implemented from January 1-15 in its first phase with Sundays being exempted from it. Subsequently, the government invited public opinion through emails, missed calls, online forms and also reached out to around 9 lakh people through interactive voice response system.

Gopal Rai said that since government had got only around 300 school buses during the implementation of first phase of odd-even scheme, they have decided not to hire school buses under the second phase of the scheme. Rai further said that government will only engage buses of private operators who had given their buses in good numbers to it during the first phase of odd-even scheme to accommodate extra rush of passengers.