No mercy for odd-even violators this time

Delhi government will strengthen staff to implement the car rationing restriction strictly, more officials to be deployed on roads

Enforcement rather than awareness will be the focus of Delhi government’s odd-even car rationing campaign this time.

The car rationing scheme was launched by the AAP government in January this year for 15 days. Touted as a success, the scheme was implemented in the backdrop of severe air pollution. Delhi, called the world’s most polluted city by WHO, has over 8 million registered vehicles. (Photo by Virendra Singh Gosain/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The strength of the staff to prosecute violators has been increased by five times and the number of civic defence volunteers will be up by 25%.

The car rationing scheme was launched by the AAP government in January this year for 15 days. Touted as a success, the scheme was implemented in the backdrop of severe air pollution. Delhi, called the world’s most polluted city by WHO, has over 8 million registered vehicles.

The second version of odd-even campaign will be implemented from April 15 to April 30.

The Delhi government has called tenders for 120 vehicles and mobile teams that will be deployed to nab those caught driving an even-number car on an odd date or vice-versa.

Teams of Delhi Police personnel and sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) have been empowered to challan the violators. “We have identified 120 places, apart from the city borders, where we are expecting more violations. Last time we focussed on stopping wrong vehicles from entering the city. This time, however, the deployment will be more within the city,” said a senior transport department official.

Each enforcement vehicles will have six members — one transport department official, three exservicemen and two civil defence volunteers. Volunteers will be deployed at strategic locations. They will be given wireless sets to inform their superiors about violations.

“The last time, only the SDMs had been given the mandate to challan. The transport department had only 22 teams across the city. Now, SDMs will check violations along with volunteers. There will be 400 ex-servicemen and 5,000 volunteers to help the transport department and SDMs,” the official said.

Sources said in January public affairs that are governed by the SDMs suffered since they were asked to go out and challan oddeven violators.

Transport department officials above the constable rank will be given the power to challan and volunteers will stop the violators. The government has inducted 225 ex-servicemen to enforce the oddeven scheme.

About 2,000 traffic police personnel will also be deployed to catch violators.

Last time there were no ex-servicemen and 4,000 civil defence volunteers were deployed at major intersections. Volunteers and ex-servicemen will also keep a check on other violations such as bad behaviour by auto drivers.