Even as the odd-even scheme is being touted as a big success, the Delhi Government appears to be unsure when the scheme will be reintroduced in the city.
In a Press conference on Monday, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai called the experiment a success and claimed that there is consensus among all stakeholders to bring the scheme back. However, he refrained from announcing any tentative time when the scheme could be implemented.
“Odd-even scheme will make a comeback, albeit with better preparations,” he said.
Many feel that the 15-day trial did not meet the desired results. Though it did help in easing traffic flow across the city, it could not meet the expectations on the pollution level, which was the main objective of the scheme. To make matters even worse, the city Government lost on revenue as the sale of petrol and diesel came down by 25 per cent during this period. The Government is also worried that the pre-announcement of this scheme for the future will make people to buy second cars and will defeat the very purpose of odd- even.
Sources have revealed that the Government may implement the scheme in May end which may last till June. That is because the Environment Department of the Delhi Government is said to have suggested that there is a peak in pollutant levels in September-October, December-January and May (end)-June due to weather factors and that may be an appropriate time to implement the scheme again.
The Minister said the Government is facing two questions, solutions to which need to be figured out before the scheme could be implemented again. “The first question is how can we stop people from buying a second vehicle if the scheme is made a regular affairIJ And the second question is that after the schools are reopened, what will happen to those parents who will be returning after dropping their children at school by their carsIJ” he said.
“We have sought solutions to these questions from all departments, who are needed to submit a report. Only after that we can decide when and for how long the scheme can be implemented again,” he added.
However, sources revealed that the dip in the revenue of the Government due to reduction in sale of diesel and petrol by around 25-30 per cent is another reason the Government may not want to implement the scheme again soon.
It must be noted that a major portion of the Government’s revenue is earned from the taxes on the sale of petrol and diesel.
Expressing apprehensions that people may buy a second vehicle if the scheme is made a regular affair, Rai cited that similar phenomenon was witnessed in Mexico and the Government is exploring all possibilities.
While emphasising that the focus is currently only on finding solution to the two main challenges, Rai also said it may not be possible in present conditions to implement the scheme without exemptions to two-wheelers.
“That can be done only when we have sufficient public transport. We will bring 1,000 new buses by April-May and another 1,000 by July-August. We are also focusing on improving last-mile connectivity. It is only after then that two-wheelers can be brought under the scheme,” he said.