The second phase of the odd-even scheme saw around four lakh extra cars and 1.3 lakh extra two-wheelers on the roads compared to the first edition of the scheme, indicating that many people who left their cars the first time made alternate arrangements this time around.
“There was an additional volume of 3,88,886 cars (private cars and car pooling), 134,598 two-wheelers and 8,000 buses, which was not there during the first phase,” observed the six-member committee, headed by Special Commissioner (Transport) KK Dahiya, which submitted its report on Wednesday.
The report also mentions that there was barely around 12 percent reduction in number of vehicles entering Delhi from Gurgaon and Noida during the odd even scheme, which the report has termed as “not substantial”.
The report has also blamed functioning of schools, construction activity at Bhairon Marg, Rao Tula Ram Marg and dismantling of BRT corridor for traffic congestion during the implementation of the scheme this time around.
“The functioning of schools being in session during Odd-Even Phase II was found to be a major reason of congestion in vicinity/roads where the schools are situated. This had an effect of congestion upto an area of 5 to 6 kms in the vicinity of schools,” the report has said.
It has further added that construction activity affected traffic upto a radius of 10 kms. “Major construction activity at Bhairon Marg, Rao Tula Ram Marg and dismantling of BRT corridor is found to be a major bottleneck which disrupted the traffic very adversely and it had a cascading effect in a radius of almost 8 to 10 kms,” it said.
The six-member committee formed by the Delhi Government to find out the impact of open schools and hot weather on Odd-Even-II also conducted a sample survey in six schools. It found out that a “very high” percentage of students used cars and other private vehicles to reach schools.
“This fact has emerged based on sample survey of six private schools namely DPS RK Puram, DPS East of Kailash, DPS Vasant Vihar, NK Bagrodia School Rohini, KR Mangalam World School GK II and Modern School Barakhamba Road. The data was collected from 13,497 students about mode of travel from aforementioned schools,” the report says.
The committee also inferred that the residents of satellite towns “did not shift to car pooling or public transport” but made alternative arrangements resulting in only a marginal decrease in number of vehicles coming from these towns.
“The data obtained from DND fly way indicated that 16,224 cars entered Delhi from Uttar Pradesh during two days of Odd-Even between 8.30 am to 10.30 am whereas 18, 071 cars entered during the two days after Odd-Even at the same time. Thus there was an average reduction of only 12 percent of total vehicles coming from Noida,” the report said.
“Similarly, data collected from the survey of vehicles on NH-8 indicated that 20,427 vehicles entered Delhi from Gurgaon between 8.30 am and 10.30 am on one day during Odd-Even period and 23,613 vehicles entered after the Odd-Even period during the same time. The average reduction was not substantial,” it added.
Apart from that, the committee has also found out an increase in number of CNG cars which added to the number of vehicles on the road, thereby making the second edition of Odd-Even less effective than the first one.
“Approximately 30,000 CNG stickers were issued during Phase II of the scheme thus, there were 30,000 additional vehicles plying on the roads. There are many other reasons also including marriage season and high temperature which appears to have affected smooth flow of traffic this time,” the committee has said in its report.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai had set-up a six-member panel to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather on Odd-Even scheme on April 23 following complaints of congestion on roads during the scheme.
Members of the committee included Delhi Transport Corporation Deputy CGM Anuj Sinha, DIMTS additional vice-president CK Goel, DCP (traffic) AK Singh, Executive Director (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) Vikas Kumar and Education additional director Sunita Kaushik.
The second phase of odd-even scheme started on April 15 and remained in effect till April 30. The government will take a decision on the third phase of odd-even after studying the report.