The ambitious odd-even scheme, set to be rolled out from January 1, will have out of its ambit CNG-certified vehicles, two-wheelers, cars being driven by women drivers and those carrying the differently abled, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.
Kejriwal said the scheme has received all the necessary approvals and a notification for its implementation would be issued next Monday. Violators would attract a penalty of Rs 2,000, he said.
The car rationing scheme would be applicable from 8 am to 8 pm on all days except Sunday and on cars with NCR and other states’ registration number plates, Kejriwal said.
Cars being driven by a woman alone or even while being accompanied by children up to the age of 12 would be exempted, while cases of medical emergencies would be treated on “basis of trust”, the Chief Minister said.
Kejriwal also read out a long list of VIP category vehicles, also to be exempted, including that of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Union Ministers and Governors and Chief Ministers of states and Union Territories “except that of Delhi’’.
Vehicles bearing defence ministry number plates and those of Special Protection Group Protectees (SPG) would not be covered by the rules under which cars bearing odd and even numbers would ply on alternate dates till January 15.
Emergency and enforcement vehicles such as ambulances, fire brigade, police vehicles, transport department vehicles would be out of its ambit as well.
The Chief Minister, addressing a press conference at his residence, assured that Delhi Metro services would run at its peak frequency during the period the regulations would be in force.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was also present at the press meet, urged the Chief Justice of India, who had earlier backed the proposals and whose vehicle will be out of the odd-even ambit, to try carpool to work “to send out a strong message''.
Kejriwal said if large-scale violation is reported, the government would have no option but to “discontinue the scheme” and stressed on the need for a “cultural change“.
“Such schemes are enforced only during peak pollution periods across the world. No where is it in force through the year.
“About 10,000 NCC and NSS volunteers would be pressed into service who will offer roses to violators so that there is a mindset change. Students across Delhi would also be made to take oath on December 30,” Kejriwal said.
The AAP chief said that during the last edition of the carfree day in the city, several issues had cropped up as traffic police had stopped public vehicles like buses from entering the designated stretch.
“Transport Minister Gopal Rai is writing to the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Centre raising the matter. There should not be politics over this matter,” Kejriwal said.
According to the blueprint, cars bearing odd number plates would not be even allowed to park in public parking lots during odd number dates and vice-versa.
Cars, if found parked on designated bus lanes being marked across the city, would also attract penalty.
He said, according to the plan, owners of CNG-fitted cars will need to show prescribed stickers. A ‘carpool app’ would soon be launched by the government.
Earlier this month, Kejriwal had announced that he, his ministers and all government officials will follow odd-even scheme. He had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his cooperation on its implementation.
According to the government’s plan, it will run 6,000 additional buses to accommodate commuters after the implementation of odd-even scheme.
Nearly 10 lakh private cars will daily stay off Delhi roads once the odd-even formula is enforced with drastic reduction in traffic flow, which is expected to significantly reduce the high levels of pollution in the city.
There are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi and nearly half of these will go off the roads with the implementation of AAP government’s ambitious odd-even formula.