<p>Authorities will grapple with challenges such as reducing commute time and enforcing lane discipline when the city’s odd-even experiment faces its first working day rush on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Heavy traffic was seen in various parts of the city on Friday despite nearly 10 lakh private car staying off roads due to Delhi government’s car rationing scheme. <br />Buses also veered away from their lanes on Friday, even though, ahead of the experiment, Delhi government had directed challaning those not plying in the 'bus-only' lanes.<br /><br />“No one pays heed to vehicles parked in the bus-exclusive lanes,” a DTC bus conductor said, showing a video he had shot from the moving bus of irregularly parked vehicles at Rani Bagh market. <br /><br />The extreme-left lane on all busy roads have been marked and converted into bus lanes.<br /><br />If buses cross into another lane, they are liable for a fine by the Traffic Police. However, other vehicles are allowed to use the lane. <br /><br />Similar lane markings were in place during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The government had then deployed police personnel every few metres to maintain lane discipline and facilitate travel of athletes. <br /><br />DTC workers told Deccan Herald that lane disciplining is not as strict this year.<br />Giving a huge boost to public transportation ahead of the implementation of the road-rationing scheme, Delhi government added 3,000 more private buses to DTC's fleet. <br /><br />Currently, the DTC operates about 4,700 buses, while the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transport System (DIMTS) – a joint venture between the city government and the Infrastructure and Development and Finance Corporation – oversees operations of some 1,200 orange-coloured cluster buses.<br /><br />Travel time<br /><br />The success of the odd-even scheme, however, will depend on how well the government does in reducing the commute time. According to data from Payscale, a US-based salary tracking firm, the average one-way commuting time in Delhi is 42.96 minutes.<br /><br />Delhi government has tied up with Twitter to give information on bus and Metro routes between two places. Tweets are to be sent to Delhi government’s handle @TransportDelhi.<br /><br />On Friday, hundreds of Delhiites tweeted to find ways to get around the city. <br />The government has also added carpooling feature in its Poochh-O app, which helps commuters book three-wheelers and cabs through smartphones during the trial.<br /><br />“Do complain in case of refusal by auto drivers. They will be punished,” Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai told reporters on Friday. <br /><br />However, Delhiites rue that nothing has been done by the government to stop private app-based taxi firms like Uber and Ola from surge charging during the odd-even experiment.<br /><br />Surge price are applicable when demand outstrips the number of drivers on the road. “I had to pay two times more when I booked an Ola cab in the morning,” Sudhakar Jha, a Patparganj resident said.<br /></p>
<p>Authorities will grapple with challenges such as reducing commute time and enforcing lane discipline when the city’s odd-even experiment faces its first working day rush on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Heavy traffic was seen in various parts of the city on Friday despite nearly 10 lakh private car staying off roads due to Delhi government’s car rationing scheme. <br />Buses also veered away from their lanes on Friday, even though, ahead of the experiment, Delhi government had directed challaning those not plying in the 'bus-only' lanes.<br /><br />“No one pays heed to vehicles parked in the bus-exclusive lanes,” a DTC bus conductor said, showing a video he had shot from the moving bus of irregularly parked vehicles at Rani Bagh market. <br /><br />The extreme-left lane on all busy roads have been marked and converted into bus lanes.<br /><br />If buses cross into another lane, they are liable for a fine by the Traffic Police. However, other vehicles are allowed to use the lane. <br /><br />Similar lane markings were in place during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The government had then deployed police personnel every few metres to maintain lane discipline and facilitate travel of athletes. <br /><br />DTC workers told Deccan Herald that lane disciplining is not as strict this year.<br />Giving a huge boost to public transportation ahead of the implementation of the road-rationing scheme, Delhi government added 3,000 more private buses to DTC's fleet. <br /><br />Currently, the DTC operates about 4,700 buses, while the Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transport System (DIMTS) – a joint venture between the city government and the Infrastructure and Development and Finance Corporation – oversees operations of some 1,200 orange-coloured cluster buses.<br /><br />Travel time<br /><br />The success of the odd-even scheme, however, will depend on how well the government does in reducing the commute time. According to data from Payscale, a US-based salary tracking firm, the average one-way commuting time in Delhi is 42.96 minutes.<br /><br />Delhi government has tied up with Twitter to give information on bus and Metro routes between two places. Tweets are to be sent to Delhi government’s handle @TransportDelhi.<br /><br />On Friday, hundreds of Delhiites tweeted to find ways to get around the city. <br />The government has also added carpooling feature in its Poochh-O app, which helps commuters book three-wheelers and cabs through smartphones during the trial.<br /><br />“Do complain in case of refusal by auto drivers. They will be punished,” Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai told reporters on Friday. <br /><br />However, Delhiites rue that nothing has been done by the government to stop private app-based taxi firms like Uber and Ola from surge charging during the odd-even experiment.<br /><br />Surge price are applicable when demand outstrips the number of drivers on the road. “I had to pay two times more when I booked an Ola cab in the morning,” Sudhakar Jha, a Patparganj resident said.<br /></p>
