Six-member panel to study congestion during odd-even scheme

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Saturday constituted a six-member committee to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather on the odd-even scheme following traffic congestion on roads despite the ongoing second second phase of road-rationing plan.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the move is to ensure proper measures in place whenever government comes out with the next edition of the odd-even scheme.

The decision was taken at a review meeting on traffic situation chaired by the transport department today.

The Committee, to be headed by transport special commissioner K K Dahiya, will have DTC's deputy CGM Anuj Sinha, DIMTS additional vice-president C K Goel, DCP (traffic) A K Singh, Executive Director (DMRC) Vikas Kumar and Education additional director Sunita Kaushik as its members.

It has been asked to submit its report after the wrapping up of this edition of odd-even scheme.

Rai said at the time of first phase of odd-even scheme implemented in January, schools were closed and weather was pleasant but during the second phase, opening of schools and hot weather are major factors contributing significantly to traffic jams .

"Due to closing of schools in January, around 2500 school buses could not come on roads. Besides, as there was winter session that time, people used to prefer for a walk for small distance, but people are now using bikes, cars and taxis for the same distance causing traffic congestion on roads.

"As schools are now open, parents are now doing more trips of their cars from home to schools, markets, office using one vehicle " he said.

The transport minister further said, "The six-member committee will study the side effect of opening of schools and hot weather on the second phase of odd-even scheme.

"Due to these two factors, how much effect - be it 5 per cent, 10 per cent or 15 per cent, is on the scheme so that government could ensure measures next time while implementing the third phase of the scheme."

In the meeting, minister said that they reviewed the complaints of lack of coordination between traffic police, enforcement wing and civil defence volunteers at a local level.

To deal with traffic congestion, government has also set up special monitoring team, to be headed by Special Commissioner Sandeep Goel, to do a proper monitoring of traffic signals across the national capital.

He added that the decision was taken after government received several complaints against improper functioning of traffic signals which were causing traffic snarls on the capital's roads.

Unlike the first phase, traffic congestion is being reported in various areas including Nehru Palace, ITO, Laxmi Nagar, Bhairav Sing-Marg, INA and some other parts of South Delhi during the second phase of odd-even scheme.

Rai said that as per preliminary report, opening of schools and construction and repair works are causing traffic jams during the ongoing scheme. In view of this, government has directed PWD, DMRC and DJB to carry out their construction and repair works at night to avoid traffic jam.

Few days before the second phase of the road-rationing plan, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that if the scheme tuns out to be successful, government may seriously consider implementing it for 15 days every month.