Odd-even effect: Delhi babus carpool, take leave on alternate days

While several senior officials in the state government and the civic bodies said they are pooling cars and taking public transport like cabs and autorickshaws during the odd-even rule, others like some officers in the corporation have even decided to go on leave on alternate days.

From carpooling and cycling to going on leave, government and municipal officials have found different ways for commuting to work following the Delhi government’s odd-even car scheme.

Delhi Civil Defence personnel and volunteers request commuters to follow the odd-even vehicle rationing trial, at Nizamuddin Bridge in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Mohd Zakir/ HT Photo)

While several senior officials in the state government and the civic bodies said they are pooling cars and taking public transport like cabs and autorickshaws during the odd-even rule, others like some officers in the corporation have even decided to go on leave on alternate days.

“Complying with the orders of Delhi government, we have been carpooling from home to the office. We are doing the same even for attending meetings in different locations. However, many of our officials, who haven’t been paid salaries for over three months, have decided to take leave on days on which they can’t use their own vehicles or the transport provided by the government,” a senior municipal corporation official said.

The municipal councillors, however, said they have now been using two-wheelers or even cycling in their wards or even to the respective meetings. “Although, I personally feel that the scheme should have been thought through before being implied, I have an odd-numbered car and am using it only on odd days. Although on days when I can’t use my car, I cycle my way through the city,” said Farhad Suri, leader of opposition in South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

In Delhi government offices, however, most of the officials said they are either carpooling or using public transport. “Fortunately, I have an odd number private car while my official vehicle is even number. But I know other colleagues who have been car pooling. Yesterday, one more senior official joined in my car to office,” said a senior official whose government residence is in south Delhi.

Sources, in fact, said the managing commutation on our own has not become an issue in the government as the chief minister and cabinet ministers have been leading the way in using different means to follow the road rationing scheme.