CNG vehicles to remain exempt from odd-even rule in Delhi

The Government of Delhi has mercifully exempted vehicles running on CNG in the reintroduction of the second phase of the odd-even scheme in the capital from April 15 to April 30. Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai announced the decision on Tuesday after a second meeting with the coordination committee.

“CNG stickers will be available from April 1 at a centre near CGO Complex at Lodhi Road. The centre will remain open from 8 AM to 8 PM everyday. Personally, I am in favour of exempting women, but the opinion is divided according to the survey we undertook. We will put out the final notification on April 8,” the minister told reporters.

Rai said CNG stickers will be available from April 1 at an IGL pump near the CGO Complex on Lodhi Road between 8 am and 8 pm everyday. The decision was one of the many taken at a meeting of the coordination committee, which includes members from several departments of the government.

The minister also added that he will write to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh urging them to create awareness on the guidelines of the road rationing measure under which cars with odd and even licence plates ply on alternate days. Trial of the air quality monitoring system, that will be put in place during the 15-day period till April 30, will begin on April 6.

In the meantime the Delhi government will launch a publicity campaign titled ‘Dilli bole dil se, odd even phir se’ on April 1 across multiple media including television and radio, buses and the Delhi Metro.

Rai also said that the registration of additional buses, which will be pressed into service during this period, has already started while the process to involve ex-servicemen, who are to be deployed along with the civil defence volunteers, will begin soon.