Govt to create fund to promote public transport

New Delhi: Delhi government has decided to establish an urban transport fund to promote public transport and its use in a bid to tackle the rising pollution levels in the national capital.
One rupee cess shall be imposed on purchase of every packet of cigarette and every bottle of liquor for the purpose, a Delhi government official said Friday.

The government has also decided to introduce 8 coaches in 129 metro trains by March 2017. So far, only 58 metro trains run with 8 coaches.

These decisions were taken at a High-Powered Committee meeting, constituted to examine measures to check air and water pollution in Delhi under the chairmanship of the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung Friday.

"Further, the Pollution Under control (PUC) norms for all vehicles plying in Delhi will be tightened.
"Soon Delhi Traffic Police will make it mandatory for all vehicles to display a valid PUC sticker on the vehicle. The proposal of making valid PUC certificate mandatory for procuring petrol or diesel is being examined," the official said.

From January 1 to September 5, this year, 24,025 violators have been challaned for not carrying a valid PUC certificate. Delhi government has also decided to regulate the entry of non-destined vehicles in the city.

"The Public Works Department (PWD) and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) will make provisions of U turns or underpasses at specific border locations so that entry of non-destined vehicles in Delhi may be prohibited and non destined vehicles turned back. These provisions shall be put in place within the next 2 months," said the official.

Also, to check the menace of overloading, the Transport Department has been asked to prepare a plan to install weigh-in-motion systems at all entry points in Delhi. The plan shall be submitted to the Lt Governor within the next 2 months.

Besides that, Delhi Traffic Police will take strict action against unauthorized, obstructive parking and will carry out an exercise to enforce "No Parking/No Stopping/No Tolerance Zone" in the city.

The High Powered Committee is also working on the parking policy which includes imposing differential parking rates, to dis-incentivize people from parking on congested roads and to incentivize multi-level parking.

The concept of 'premium parking' for particularly congested areas in Delhi is also being discussed.

Lt governor has directed the Transport department to introduce non-polluting battery operated vehicles for last mile connectivity to metro and public transport.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has selected three metro stations to provide the charging infrastructure support for the pilot fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles. In addition, the DMRC has operationalized 34 CNG Mini buses.

Meanwhile, Delhi government will carry out an awareness drive about air pollution in the city and will sensitize the general public about measures that they can adopt to help check pollution.

The High Powered Committee was constituted on May 13 this year by Lt Governor. The committee had suggested short-term and long-term measures to help check pollution levels in Delhi.