Terming the second day of implementation of odd-even formula as successful, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said, “Mere rules cannot change anything, change of mindset is needed which we aimed at through implementation of odd-even formula. Two days trials show that people of Delhi are ready for it.”
Also, the Minister said he noticed “a new, collective consciousness” among people to contribute towards efforts for lowering pollution. The Government had prepared for implementation of the scheme on day one and now it is the “responsibility” of the people to ensure that violations do not take place even on Monday, the Minister said.
Regarding questions over the Delhi Government’s preparations to ensure proper implementation of the formula on Monday when vehicular traffic and number of commuters are likely to go up significantly, he said people of Delhi are ready to follow the rule.
Rebutting charges of Opposition BJP and Congress that the odd-even formula was launched without adequate preparations, Rai said they were opposing the scheme just for the "sake of opposition."
“Yesterday (Friday) while heading towards India Gate I stopped in front of BJP office and found that there was only one vehicle that violated odd-even formula,” said the Minister, adding that there cannot be any division over the need to fight pollution to clean the air we breathe.
Rai who took a bus ride to take stock of the situation on the roads said, “Only odd-numbered cars were seen on the road yesterday (Friday) while today (Saturday) only even numbered cars are visible”.
The Minister’s bus ride started from Delhi Secretariat passed through Indraprastha, Nizammudin, Saray Kale Khan, Ashram, Nehru Place, India Gate, finally concluding at the starting point.
The smooth ride, however, suffered a hiccup as the DTC bus carrying the Minister along with officials of the Transport Department and mediapersons nearly missed an accident near the millennium depot.