Panel to study spike in traffic during odd-even phase II (Roundup)

Taking cognizance of reports of heavy traffic during odd-even phase two, the Delhi government on Saturday formed a six-member panel to study the reason for more vehicles on the roads. Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai announced random checking of cars bearing CNG stickers on Tuesday to check if they were actually being run on CNG.

The ninth day of odd-even traffic scheme saw a marginal dip in the particulate pollution levels of the city.

Continuing its special drive against the errant auto rickshaws, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government challaned 409 three-wheelers for fleecing commuters or refusing to go to the desired destinations.

Separately, the transport department booked 302 cars for violating the odd-even traffic restrictions.

Transport Minister Rai said it has been observed that more number of vehicles are plying on Delhi roads during the odd-even Part Two. The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in its primary report also said that traffic has increased on the city roads.

"To analyse the traffic situation in the city, I have ordered to constitute a six-member committee. This committee will also assess the side effect of keeping schools open during the phase and of the hot summer in contributing to more cars on the city roads," Rai said.

The SPA's study which was conducted at eight heavy traffic places reveals that private vehicular traffic in the city increased during the second leg of the odd-even scheme, which kicked off on April 15 and will end on April 30.

The second phase of the road rationing scheme has seen an increase of almost 50 percent in the share of private cars plying on the road, compared to the first phase in January.

The minister said the committee will be headed by Special Commissioner (Transport) K.K. Dahiya. The other members of the committee are Deputy CGM, DTC, Anuj Sinha, Special CEO DIMTS C.K. Goel, DCP Traffic (Central) A.K. Singh, Executive Director (Operations) DMRC Vikas Kumar and Additional Director Education Sunita Kaushik.

"The committee will study the reasons for more number of vehicles on Delhi roads and examine the available data till April 30. After analyzing the data and factors the committee will submit its report along with suggestions by May 5," Rai said.

Rai at a press conference announced a special drive on Tuesday to check cars with CNG stickers.

"If caught with fake stickers, people will be fined for violating the odd-even and we will also lodge an FIR against such people," Rai told reporters.

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that particulate matter pollution dipped in the city on Saturday.

The PM 2.5 level decreased to 81.2 on Saturday from the level of 93.8 a day ago, while PM 10 reached to 164.2 from 206, SAFAR said.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on Saturday revealed that they monitored the particulate matter pollution levels for Friday at 74 different locations in Delhi and NCR out of which 55 were within the permissible limit (below 60).

Rai, without taking any names, said that efforts were being made in a "conscious way" to fail the odd-even traffic scheme.

He claimed that the government has received an audio clip of a telephonic conversation between a DTC bus driver and an unknown person, in which the driver was demanding Rs.10,000 for halting the vehicle in the middle of the road to pose as a break-down bus.

"Efforts are being made to get the DTC buses breakdown in order to to fail the odd-even," he said.

--IANS

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