The AAP Government has purchased five Swift Desire and five Maruti Ciaz and Nano cars to ensure its Ministers do not suffer in travelling from one place to another during the 15-day trial run of odd-even formula in the city from January 1.
The cost of each Swift Desire and Maruti Ciaz works between Rs 9 lakh and Rs 12 lakh.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, will come in their odd number car. PWD & Health Minister Satyendar Jain will carpool with the CM. Transport Minister Gopal Rai has an even number car. He will carpool with CM. Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra will come on motorcycle for secretariat. Environment Minister Imran Hussain will use an auto. He has an even number car while Social Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar will commute by bus (ISBT to Secretariat).
Top sources told The Pioneer that sensing the shortage of cars during the implementation of the pilot project could affect the movement of the Ministers and other officers, the Delhi Government have purchased about 10 even-odd number cars.
According to sources, the proposal was approved in the absence of Principal Secretary (Finance) SN Sahai when he was on leave. “The old vehicle being used by Ministers is expected to be given to officials of the Delhi Government during the even-odd scheme. The new cars are parked inside the Delhi Secretariat,” sources said.
All through the day on Thursday officers were seen busy telephoning each other on how they could pool their cars so that they could reach their workstations on time.
A senior officer said three bureaucrats had tied up with each other for carpooling. “The bureaucrats will travel together from their respective offices to the Delhi Secretariat and return in the same car. They will coordinate with each other if they have to move out of the Secretariat during the day time.”
Another DANICS officer said he has decided to travel from office to home by Delhi Metro. “In between if I have any other engagement, I will use my colleagues car. In case, the car is occupied, I will engage a private taxi.”