With the special bus service for the Members of Parliament finding few takers on Monday morning, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said those MPs who violated the odd-even scheme “intentionally” will be challaned.
“The rules are same for all and MPs are also covered under the odd-even scheme. Those who will intentionally violate it or repeat the mistake will be issued challans,” Rai said.
Rai, however, added that those parliamentarians who flouted the rule by mistake while going to Parliament will be spared on the first day of the Session. He also said the Delhi Government is ensuring that the lawmakers are facilitated and do not face any problem due to the car-rationing scheme.
“There are just four days left and by the time any change in the notification is effected, the scheme will itself end. The notification cannot be changed now but we will extend all possible cooperation. The Government is cooperating fully for functioning of Parliament and that is why we have deployed special buses,” Rai said after a meeting with Vice President Hamid Ansari.
He said Ansari mentioned about problems faced by some MPs who stay away from Parliament and do not have car-pooling option and cannot use the special buses meant for them.
“We are ready to cooperate and provide public transport to such MPs if they have no car-pooling option and who cannot use special buses,” he said.
“It is an opportunity for the Parliamentarians to set an example by obeying the scheme and show that they also follow the rules like other people,” Rai had earlier said.
Meanwhile, out of the six buses pressed into service for MPs, only two have been retained as shuttles for the Parliamentarians while four have been recalled.
BJP MPs Ranjan Bhatt and Hari Om Singh Rathore availed the “MP Special Bus Service” to reach Parliament.
However, BJP MP Paresh Rawal violated the odd-even rule by reaching the House in his even-numbered car following which he apologised to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“Made a serious blunder by travelling in an odd number car to Parliament... Sorry to Arvind ji and Delhiite(s),” Rawal tweeted. The BJP MP later tweeted a challan copy, saying he has paid a fine for violating the odd-even rule.
The Transport Department had deployed six DTC buses to ferry MPs to Parliament to attend the ongoing session as the second phase of the scheme is in force till April 30 in the city.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai thanked those MPs who took special DTC buses to Parliament and appealed to others to follow the odd-even rule.
“They have the option to either travel by DTC buses or carpool. Some MPs today travelled by bus and I hope a majority of them considers odd-even to be a good scheme and will follow it by taking buses or carpooling,” Rai, who travelled by a DTC bus to assess the implementation of the scheme, said.
Rai said the number of MPs who travelled by DTC buses will be known later and subsequently, a decision will be taken regarding the number of buses.
The Minister also visited Parliament. “I have talked to the lok Sabha Secretariat about spreading the information regarding the special buses,” he said.
The Delhi Transport Corporation is operating three “MP Special” buses each from North Block and South Block via Akhbar Road and Ashoka Road. According to the Government, a help desk has also been set up in Parliament premises to assist lawmakers in availing the bus service. A senior Government official said keeping security of MPs in mind, some security personnel will also be deployed in these buses.
The President, The Prime Minister, The Vice-President, union ministers, the Chief Justice of India, judges of high courts, women among others are exempted under it.
Addressing the reports of traffic congestion in some parts of the city, Rai said there was no major problem of traffic congestion due to odd-even scheme which, he added, helped reduce air pollution by bringing down PM2.5.
“There were four-five points where problems came up. In Nehru Place, it was the construction work of an over-bridge... while a traffic jam was witnessed on the stretch between AIIMS and Dhaulakuan after a pipe had burst. Barring these points, traffic movement is smooth all across Delhi,” he said.
“The reports so far have shown the impact of the odd-even scheme on PM2.5. It is natural because this time more people are following it. So if compliance is more, it is going to help the environment,” he said.