On the day when the Delhi High Court asked the Kejriwal Government to consider if odd-even scheme could be implemented only for a week instead of 15 days, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the car rationing measure was being enforced for a period of 15 days so as to enable the Government to collect “sufficient data”.
He said all relevant data would be produced before the Delhi High Court.
“We decided to make it a 15-day long programme so that we gather sufficient data which can be better looked into and prepare further blueprint,” he said, adding that the Government would inform the court that it would be able to undertake a “proper analysis” with 15-day data in hand.
Rai emphasised that the scheme that will be in force till January 15 is “surely” bringing down the level of pollutants in areas across the city and that a “little trouble has to be borne for big measures”.
“The biggest benefit has been a congestion-free Delhi which has put a brake to further increase in pollution levels. There has been minimal impact at the border areas but vehicular pollution and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 is surely coming down in the interior areas of the city,” Rai said.
On the Court’s observation that public transport was “inadequate” resulting in “inconvenience” to the residents, Rai said the Government has increased metro frequency, augmented the fleet of buses and developed technology for buses.
“People are carpooling to save the lives of their children and entire Delhi cooperating with the Government in this movement,” Rai said.