Odd Even Formula to Be Re-Introduced in Delhi; Committee to Meet Today

While the pilot plan was implemented on January 1 and lasted till January 15 with certain exemptions, it is claimed that the next phase of odd-even scheme will be introduced after the CBSE Board examinations. According to the information we have received, the government is eyeing on four probable dates for launching the second phase - February 14, March 1, April 1 and May 1.

After the completion of the pilot plan, the government organized various campaigns asking the people of Delhi and NCR to vote for the scheme and share suggestions to improve it. Reports claim that the government has received the public opinion through emails, missed calls, online forms and through interactive voice response system. An email-id 'oddevenidea@gmail.com' was opened on January 26 to invite public opinion on the scheme, while a dedicated website and a phone line was launched on February 1.

Delhi Odd Even Scheme

According to a senior official, the government has received over 11 lakh responses on the future course of its car-rationing scheme. Most of these people have voted in favour of the plan that seeks to cut down air pollution by promoting use of public transport. "The Chief Minister has convened a review meeting with his ministers and officials from concerned departments to discuss and analysis the responses sent by the masses since January 26," the official said.

The official even said, "Around 28,300 suggestions have been received through online forms, while another 9,000 and 1,82,808 have come through emails and missed called respectively. The government, on its part, has made more than 9,00,000 calls to gather public opinion," a senior government official said. "Now we will analyse the responses," he added.

Talking about the different mediums used to collect public responses, the official said that people's response was gathered through automated calls through IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System). Additionally AAP MLAs, organised public meetings across the city on two days to get more feedback. People were give a structured questionnaire by the government on whether the scheme should be implemented again, if yes, when it should be done and for what duration among others.

The questioner even asked for suggestions like - whether the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and Union ministers should be exempted in the second phase along with women drivers. One of the major concerns that is currently faced by the government for implement the next phase of Odd-Even scheme is related to transport for school children and the possibility of people purchasing another car to circumvent the restrictions.