Odd-even 2.0: AAP govt scraps bus service for MPs due to poor response

The decision comes a day after the AAP government withdrew four out of six buses as the service failed to attract high response from the MPs on day one.

The Delhi government scrapped on Wednesday a special bus service to take MPs to parliament during the odd-even scheme following a poor response from parliamentarians for two straight days.

After a poor response from Parliamentarians to the ‘MP special’ bus service for two continuous days, the Delhi government discontinued the service. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

The service was launched on Monday, the first day of the second half of the budget session of parliament, but the tepid response of lawmakers forced the AAP government to withdraw four of six buses a day later.

Only BJP MPs -- Ranjan Bhatt and Hari Om Singh Rathore – used the special buses that were to run from 9 am to 11 am and 5.30 pm to 8 pm.

Member of parliament Ram Prasad Sharma arrives at Parliament on horseback. (Sonu Metha/ HT Photo)

BJP MP Ram Prasad Sharma came to Parliament on a horse on Wednesday to protest the traffic-rationing scheme under which license plates with even numbers and those with odd numbers are allowed on the roads on alternate days.

Sharma has been one of the most vocal critics of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s road rationing scheme. (Sonu Metha/ HT Photo)

Read | Paresh Rawal violates odd-even, later apologises for ‘blunder’

Some MPs said on Monday the odd-even scheme prevented them from attending the session and amounted to an insult to them.

Read | We won’t follow odd-even scheme, it’s ‘insulting’: MPs say in Lok Sabha

“The government has decided to discontinue ‘MP Special’ bus service as we were not getting a good response from them. If demand arises to introduce the service again, we will then come up with such buses to facilitate Parliamentarians,” said Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai.

BJP MP Vijay Goel protest against odd even rule at parliament house in New Delhi, India on April 27, 2016. (Sonu Metha/ HT Photo)

The transport minister has already ruled out exempting MPs from the road-rationing plan that aims to reduce pollution in the capital but the AAP administration will try to address their issues through public conveyance.

(With inputs from agencies)