Violate odd-even scheme and be ready to pay Rs 2k fine

Delhiites may have to cough up a fine of Rs 2,000 for violating the odd-even rule as the AAP government’s transport department has proposed a penalty scheme during the 15-day trial period of road-rationing experiment starting January 1.

Sources said that the final proposal has been submitted to the government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will soon take a final call on this issue.

The Delhi government had recently asked the department to prepare a proposal to finalise the penalty that will have to be paid for the violation of odd-even rules.

“A proposal of imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 for violating odd-even rules has been sent to government. CM will take a decision in a review meeting soon to be held on odd-even scheme. Once government gives its nod to proposal, it will be sent to Lieutenant Governor for his approval,” a source said.

They also said that government was also contemplating to give special powers to the traffic police, as it was delegated during Commonwealth Games 2010 to implement the odd-even formula. Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his cooperation on the ‘odd-even’ initiative, and said directives or a public appeal by him in this regard would have a “major impact”. In a letter, Kejriwal apprised the Prime Minister that he, along with his colleagues, would carpool to office during the January 1-15 period when the vehicle rationing scheme will kick in and urged Modi to request Union ministers and secretaries to do the same. Kejriwal said the AAP government had to resort to the “unexpected and disagreeable decision” in order to mitigate air pollution in Delhi, which has assumed “dreadful proportions”.

“People will surely have to face some difficulties in the wake of its implementation... We are all answerable for this problem and we can find out a solution together only,” Kejriwal wrote in the letter.

“The Delhi government is taking a lot of steps in this regard and has decided to implement the odd-even measures on an experimental basis. The blueprint is being worked out but it has already been decided that autos, cabs, public transport, ambulances, and emergency vehicles will be out of its ambit,” he added.