Huge traffic snarls in Delhi despite odd-even scheme

Traffic snarls were witnessed in several parts of the national capital in the peak morning hours today when the second phase of odd-even scheme faced its litmus test with all offices, schools and other institutions resuming after an extended weekend.
Long tailbacks were reported in south Delhi areas including Khanpur, the Mehrauli-Badarpur road, Delhi Cantonment and Dhaula Kuan between 8 AM and 9 AM.
Within a few hours, congestion was also witnessed at the stretch between IGI Airport and Vasant Vihar, National Highway 8 and the underpass at Dwarka, a traffic official said adding that roads near Tara apartments in south Delhi's Alaknanda were also crammed by 10 AM.

Meanwhile, severe congestion in the stretch between Laxminagar in east Delhi and central Delhi's ITO junction continued till noon.
Commuters passing through west Delhi areas including Nangloi, Naraina and Mayapuri flyover also had a hard time with traffic thrown out-of-gear in the rush hours, he said.
A senior Delhi Traffic Police official said that around 2,000 personnel were deployed on the roads to ensure full implementation of the scheme and control the flow of traffic wherever severe jams were reported.

As many as 152 people were challaned by the police for violation of the odd-even norms till 1 AM today, with the highest cases reported in eastern and southern parts of the city.

The real test for the second phase of the odd-even scheme in the national capital was today, the first full working day since the road-rationing measure was rolled out in the city on April 15.
The second phase of the scheme was rolled out on the day of Ram Navami, a public holiday, followed by the weekend.
Under the fortnight-long scheme, private cars having odd registration numbers can ply only on odd dates and the even numbers on even dates, subject to a set of exemptions, which include VIPs, women, school going children, medical emergencies, commercial vehicles and CNG cars.

The rules, whose violation attract a penalty of Rs 2,000 under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, are applicable between 8 AM and 8 PM, except on Sundays.