The Delhi Government keeps fingers crossed as the second phase of the odd-even scheme faces real test on Monday, the first working day since the scheme was rolled out in the city on April 15. However, much to the relief of the Government and commuters, auto and taxi unions on Sunday called off their planned strike on Monday.
All offices, schools and other institutions will reopen after the extended weekend. The second phase of the vehicle rationing scheme kicked off on the day of Ram Navami, a public holiday, followed by the weekend.
The decision to call off the strike late on Sunday night came after the Delhi Government gave a written undertaking to auto and taxi unions that all their demands will be given due consideration. Auto and taxi unions had on Friday decided to stay off road in the city on Monday in protest against app-based cab operators, drawing strong reaction from the Aam Aadmi Party which alleges a conspiracy to sabotage the odd-even scheme.
Unlike the first phase of the scheme, in which the focus was more on awareness and voluntary compliance, the Government has cracked the whip on violators this time, with over 2,300 challans issued in the first two days as against 479 during the same period in the first phase.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai urged lt-Governor Najeeb Jung to direct police to prevent any untoward incident during the proposed strike on Monday.
Rai also met senior police and Transport Department officials for discussing necessary arrangements to tackle any problems arising out of the strike when only even numbered vehicles, barring exempted categories, can be on the roads.
Under the fortnight-long scheme, private cars having odd registration numbers can ply only on odd dates and the even numbers on even dates, subject to a set of exemptions, which include VIPs, women, school going children, medical emergencies, commercial vehicles and CNG cars.
The rules, whose violation attract a penalty of `2,000 under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, are applicable between 8 am and 8 pm, except on Sundays. In the second phase from April 15, the Government added into its exemption list people driving with schoolchildren in uniform.
However, the Government has not been able to arrive at a solution to the problem of cars returning after dropping schoolchildren or heading towards the schools in the afternoon hours to pick them up, and instead suggested car pooling and use of two wheelers.