The Arvind Kejriwal Government’s decision to restrict plying of vehicles bearing odd and even number plates to alternate days on roads from January 1 has provoked an angry reaction from some experts. Expressing apprehension about feasibility of its implementation, they even dubbed the new traffic formula as ‘short-term’, ‘groundless’ and ‘offhand’.
“By announcing this policy without even consulting the authorities and departments concerned, the Delhi Government has shown that they can only create rabbles and throw ball in someone else’s court for mere dominance and hypocrisy,” said former Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Maxwell Pereira. The Delhi Government did not clarify who will implement this formula and ‘how’ is this going to work without giving consideration to the ‘ridiculous’ traffic management system’ existing at present, added Pereira while trashing the odd-even formula.
He further said, “Though Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi had stated that the Delhi Police is studying the problem and will come back with solutions, I know nothing can happen till this ‘primitive’ traffic system gets modified.”
“Till the time you have green corridors, enough numbers of flyovers, area control traffic system and proper computerised system to supervise the traffic, you can’t succeed with formula like even-odd,” added the former Joint CP.
To second his apprehensions regarding the upcoming traffic control measure, traffic expert Dr Sewa Ram said, “It is a ‘defective’ master plan where the Delhi Government has indirectly discouraged the private modes of transport without promoting the demand of public transport.”
“We don’t have challan systems, sufficient manpower, active e-traffic management; how can we think of this formula running successful. Every individual has his/her own level of comfort and you can’t distort it by mere implementing a formula without their consent, he added.
Pointing out at its ‘technical’ implications, Ram questioned, “How is Delhi Traffic Police going to restrict those vehicles that are coming from outside the city with the existing traffic management systemIJ”
Though Ram supported the private mode of transport over public mode taking ‘security’ concerns in notice, Pereira called security a ‘myth’ and said, “The security you desire can’t be matched with what the Delhi Police can offer; we can’t discount this formula because of the security reasons but only poor police management.”
Pereira said, “Though I would have enforced the formula had I been the present traffic chief but with someone like Kejriwal who is the biggest rabble-rouser and hypocrite, I would rather first demand proper consultations, meetings and ramifications with the authorities and then going on with the said policy.”
The same formula has been applied in foreign cities including Berlin, Paris, Beijing, Bogota, Mexico and more but has only stood out as ‘temporary’ even when they have better traffic-calming devices than India.