New Delhi, December 13

The Delhi government will issue permits to 10,000 new autorickshaws by the end of this month in a bid to strengthen the public transport system in the National Capital ahead of the odd-even vehicle scheme coming into force from January 1.

The Arvind Kejriwal government has already announced that it will add 6,000 additional buses to the city’s roads to facilitate commuters during the 15-day trial period of the odd-even formula.

According to the Transport Department, there are currently 80,000 autos plying in the Capital and new autorickshaws will play an important role to take load of increasing numbers of commuters.

“In view of the odd-even scheme, government has expedited the process of issuing permits to 10,000 new autorickshaws and by the end of December, the transport department will issue the same,” a top official told PTI.

The department has set a range of permit conditions for the plying of autos which include electronic fare meter fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) among others.

“As part of government’s plan to provide last-mile connectivity to commuters in Delhi, 10,000 new permits will give a boost to public transport, which is being augmented ahead of the odd-even formula,” the official said.

Government will issue a notification by next week allowing autorickshaws to ply in double shifts — owners will be authorised to give their autos on rent on a shift basis to drivers who have valid licences, the official said.

The AAP government is taking several steps to make its ambitious odd-even plan a success. Chief Minister Kejriwal and his ministers will follow the odd-even scheme.

Yesterday, the government had announced that all autorickshaws and taxis will be brought under one app facilitating commuters to book them through smartphones during the trial of odd-even scheme.

Odd-even formula: 10 lakh pvt vehicles to go off roads daily

Nearly 10 lakh private cars will daily stay off the roads in Delhi once the odd-even formula is enforced from January 1, with the drastic reduction in traffic flow expected to significantly reduce the high-level of pollution in the city.

There are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi and nearly half of these will go off the roads with the implementation of AAP government’s ambitious odd-even formula.

“Nineteen lakh private four-wheelers, including cars, jeeps, vans, are registered in the National Capital.

“After implementation of the odd-even scheme from January 1, around 10-lakh odd-numbered cars will go off the city’s roads on even dates and vice versa during a 15-day trial period,” a top official told PTI.

According to an IIT-Kanpur study, vehicular emissions make Delhi’s air abysmally poor during the winter months.

The Arvind Kejriwal government is yet to decide on a policy for the large number of private four-wheelers entering the national capital from cities within its vicinity like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat.

The government has to take a decision also on the approximately 57-lakh bikes and scooters here.

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has said that the government will come out with a final plan for the implementation of the odd-even formula before December 25 and strictly implement it in order to clean the city’s air.

“All the departments concerned have been asked to suggest ways to successfully implement the government’s ambitious scheme.

“DTC has been directed to engage private buses and school buses under cluster scheme so that people don’t face problems while using public transport from January 1 to January 15,” the official also said.

The AAP government is studying three existing Acts—Environment Protection Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Motor Vehicles Act—under which it can impose a penalty on those found violating the odd-even rule. — PTI