Odd-Even scheme: MPs who intentionally flout rules will be fined, says Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai

New Delhi: Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said Parliamentarians violating the odd-even scheme "intentionally" will be challaned but those who flouted the rule by mistake while going to Parliament today will be spared.

"The rules are same for all and MPs are also covered under the odd-even scheme. Those who will intentionally violate it or repeat the mistake will be issued challans," he said.

Rai said the Delhi government is ensuring that the lawmakers are facilitated and do not face any problem due to the car-rationing scheme.

"It is an opportunity for the Parliamentarians to set an example by obeying the scheme and show that they also follow the rules like other people," he said.

The Transport department has deployed six DTC buses to ferry MPs to Parliament to attend the ongoing session as the second phase of the scheme is in force till April 30 in the city.

"They have the option to either travel by DTC buses or carpool. Some MPs today traveled by bus and I hope a majority of them considers odd-even to be a good scheme and will follow it by taking buses or carpooling," Rai, who today traveled by a DTC bus to assess the implementation of the scheme, said.

The minister also thanked the MPs who took special DTC buses to Parliament.

The Delhi Transport Corporation is operating two 'MP Special' buses each from North Block and South Block, and one each from Akhbar Road and Ashoka Road.

Rai said the number of MPs who traveled by DTC buses will be known later and subsequently, a decision will be taken regarding the number of buses.

The minister also visited Parliament. "I have talked to the Lok Sabha Secretariat about spreading the information regarding the special buses," he said.

He said there was no major problem of traffic congestion due to odd-even scheme which, he added, helped reduce air pollution by bringing down PM2.5.

"There were four-five points where problems came up. In Nehru Place, it was the construction work of an over-bridge... while a traffic jam was witnessed on the stretch between AIIMS and Dhaulakuan after a pipe had burst. Barring these points, traffic movement is smooth all across Delhi," he said.

"The reports so far have shown the impact of the odd-even scheme on PM2.5. It is natural because this time more people are following it. So if compliance is more, it is going to help the environment," he said. 
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