Cops gear up for odd-even 2.0

Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday gave a finishing touch to their preparations for the odd-even scheme 2.0, starting from Friday. All the officers of the rank of head constable and above have been told to take note of the 28 exemptions mentioned in the notification.

In their meetings with the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, the traffic police have also sought an increase in the fine from Rs 2,000. But only 3,000 challans were issued by the department during the campaign in January.

“We had faced a daunting task in January as it was difficult to identify and prosecute the motorists. A heavy penalty is necessary otherwise the scheme would not prove to be a deterrent,” said a police officer.

The restrictions will be applicable from 8 am on Friday and would also apply to the vehicles bearing registration number of other states. The violators will be charged under the Motor Vehicles Act.

An assistant commissioner of police posted with the department felt that the rule must also take into consideration the difference of pollution caused by petrol and diesel cars.

“The number of diesel cars have increased in the last 10 years. Instead of targeting every vehicle, steps such as restricting sale of subsidised diesel to only public transport vehicles must be considered,” the officer told Deccan Herald.

Police have also linked the odd-even scheme with the ‘Traffic Sentinel Scheme’. In the scheme citizens are rewarded for reporting traffic offences. The mode of reporting offences is simple — a photograph or video is sent through the existing ‘Delhi Police One Touch Away’ app on Android and ‘Delhi Traffic Police’ app on iOS.

There are around 84 lakh registered vehicles, including 26 lakh cars in Delhi. On an average, the capital adds 1,400 cars on the roads every day.

The traffic police also said there will be zero tolerance on yellow line violation, lane violation and driving on the wrong carriage way. In the first three months of this year, the department has challaned 43,494 motorists and booked 312 with criminal cases under Indian Penal Code for driving against the flow of traffic.