Rajnath raises concerns over differently-abled under odd-even system

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday raised concerns about women drivers, emergency vehicles, two-wheelers and those who come from nearby towns, in his meeting with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on the odd-even formula.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday raised concerns about women drivers, emergency vehicles, two-wheelers and those who come from nearby towns, in his meeting with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on the odd-even formula.

Union home minster Rajnath Singh raised his concerns during a meeting with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. (HT Photo)

Singh assured full cooperation to Kejriwal in his 40-minute-long meeting with the Delhi CM and his deputy Manish Sisodia.

“He said the Centre and Delhi Police will fully support the move. He flagged few concerns like exempting vehicles carrying patients or being driven by women and other emergencies. Something has to be worked out on this. There are two-three suggestions. We will consider them and which may be exempted,” said Kejriwal after meeting Singh at the latter’s office.

Later, a home ministry statement said Singh advised Kerjiwal to take into account vehicles for the handicapped, those handling emergencies even if they are classified as emergency vehicles or not, increasing the number of ambulances, vehicles used by working women who drive alone and two-wheelers as they belong to ‘relatively less well-off persons’ before implementing the scheme.

“The home minister reminded the CM that 57 lakh out of 88 lakh vehicles (65%) registered in Delhi are two-wheelers,” the statement said. The home minister suggested the need to improve public transport and putting safeguards against the possibility of misuse of the scheme by the rich, who can afford two or more vehicles as it would put to ‘disadvantage only the relatively less well-off, who can afford only one vehicle’.

Singh advised the city government to devise a clear policy on the visitors from nearby towns, besides encouraging the NCR towns to implement similar schemes.

Another point that needed more clarity was the use of official vehicles by the city government and the Centre. “The Delhi government vehicles will adhere to norms. But the Centre will have to take a call on their vehicles. More clarity will emerge once final norms will be issued,” said an aide to Kejriwal.