After odd-even experiment, Delhi govt to promote cycling; plans event in Rohini

Promoting cycling among Delhiites will be the Arvind Kejriwal government’s next big campaign after odd-even formula to rein in vehicular pollution, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday.

Delhi government is likely to hold an event in Rohini this week to galvanise public support.
Rai appealed Delhiites to use bicycles for their daily-need instead of using bikes in their colonies and said that government will build cycle tracks and stands on roads.

He added the government will soon chalk out plans to promote cycling after the end of odd-even scheme.

The minister on Monday took an afternoon ride in a DTC and towards evening visited ITO to check implementation of the odd-even scheme.

He welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to interfere with the Delhi government’s notification on the road-rationing scheme, saying the decision was in favour of the people.

“We hope that till January 15, we will get sufficient data. And as announced earlier that the first phase of this odd-even formula will run for 15 days then we will take the suggestion of experts on how to implement it in the long run,” Rai told reporters.

He said there is a constant trend of declining PM2.5 levels throughout Delhi’s central areas. Vehicular emission are known source of high PM2.5 levels in the city.

“The data collected from these areas suggest that PM2.5 has reduced to 22-25 per cent in inner circle. During car-free days, we have seen 40-45 per cent drop in pollution levels,” Rai said.

He said the government will intensely promote cycling in Delhi. Earlier on Sunday, the government had announced subsiding cycles using odd-even challan collection. Violators cough up Rs 2,000 as fine, as per the odd-even rule.

Even though Rai didn’t shed much light on the campaign, a government official told DH that the government is planning large-scale campaigns/events to promote cycling in the city.