I support odd-even plan, says Chidambaram

Former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said he was personally in favour of the odd-even plan of the Delhi government as it will induce change in people's behaviour and make them opt for public transport.

Answering a query on the odd-even vehicle movement plan of the Delhi government at the Congress official briefing here, Chidambaram said: "Speaking for myself, I support the plan."

Officially, the Congress continued to express reservations over the steps taken by the Arvind Kerjiwal government to implement the plan while stating that it had never opposed it.

The plan is being implemented from January 1 for 15 days. Under the plan, four wheelers having odd number in the last digit of their registration number will ply on odd days and those with even digit on even days. Some exemptions have been granted.

Chidambaram said the plan cannot be there permanently but it can implemented for 15 days from time to time.

"I think it is important that for short periods of time, such plans must be implemented in order to change people's behaviour," he said.

"There will be more car-pooling, people will take the metro, people will walk to the markets. So I think behaviour will change but let us see how it works. I wish them well," the former minister added.

Admitting that it will cause some inconvenience, Chidambaram said it is intended to change people's behaviour.

"If I am a person who has not travelled on Metro, this may persuade me to change my behavior and travel by Metro twice a week. The idea is to change people's behaviour," Chidambaram said. .

Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala later told media persons that the Congress has never opposed the plan in principle.

However, he asked if it is possible to implement it without causing discomfort to those who travel in Delhi or come from outside.

He also asked if adequate number of extra buses have been arranged by the Delhi government.

Surjewala also said "vehicular pollution contributed 16 percent to the overall pollution levels" in Delhi while dust contributed 22 percent.

He also asked if steps had been taken to address pollution caused by trucks that cross Delhi every night on way to other states.