While Delhi witnessed congestion free roads throughout the week due to odd-even scheme, heavy traffic was reported in various parts of the city on Sunday, which normally sees very low traffic being a holiday.
It appears that while people are carpooling or using public transport to work on week days, they are piling most of their personal works for Sunday when odd-even restrictions don’t apply.
Heavy traffic was reported in Vikas Marg, Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Ring Road, Aurbindo Marg, Mandir Marg and nearby areas. Severely high traffic was also reported in Najafgarh Road, Patel Road and Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
Being a holiday, Sunday usually sees very low traffic, and traffic jams are rarely reported on this day. However, many commuters shared that due to odd-even restrictions, they had postponed many of their personal works for Sunday as odd-even restrictions do not apply on this day as per the Government’s order.
Saumya Shukla, a Noida resident, said, “I had to come to Delhi with my friends for some shopping. But due to odd-even restrictions being in place, we decided to come on Sunday.”
Delhi Traffic Police, however, attributed the surge in Sunday traffic to World Book Fair that was inaugurated on Saturday. “Obstruction in traffic on Mathura road and Bhairon Road due to book fair and heavy rush at zoo. Kindly avoid the stretch,” Delhi Traffic Police advised in a tweet.
However, same trend was witnessed in other parts of the city as well indicating at other factors in place, particularly after-effects of odd-even scheme.
The Pioneer had reported last week that benefits of odd-even scheme may be short-lived as people may shift their trips to off-peak hours and on days when vehicle restrictions are not applicable.
A study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) of India had said odd-even scheme may lead to increased use of taxis and shifting trips to days that the vehicle is not restricted. “Also it may not impact vehicle kilometres clocked by a vehicle if it is used more on the day when it is allowed to operate. Finally, the elimination of trips barred by rationing could induce additional demand — new trips could take advantage of less congested roadways,” it had said.