Open to odd-even in B'luru if it clicks in Delhi, says minister

Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy has said if the odd-even policy is effective in bringing down alarming pollution levels in Delhi, it would be tried out in Bengaluru.

"Should it work, we will discuss implementing it in consultation with the transport department and the Chief Minister," Reddy told reporters on Saturday.

The Arvind Kejriwal government called-off plans to implement the odd-even policy as the Green Tribunal refused to exempt women, two-wheeled vehicles and government servants from the scheme.

Odd-even scheme alternatively lets odd-numbered and even-numbered vehicles to ply on odd and even dates.

Reddy, formerly in-charge of the transport ministry, felt the scheme is not going to work magic. "In 2013, Bengaluru had 53 lakh vehicles. In the last four years, the numbers have gone up by 12 lakhs. Pollution cannot be tackled without cutting down the vehicle density," he said.

Road-widening projects

The government is widening the arterial roads to decongest traffic, Reddy added. "Sarjapur Road, Hennur Main Road and Bannerghatta Road will be widened based on Transferable Development Rights (TDR) policy," he said.

The new policy grants twice the area of notional land for every square metre acquired, while also linking the additional built-up area to the guidance (market) value.

Reddy said successive Andhra Pradesh governments after N Chandrababu Naidu continued to widen the roads in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. "Many roads were widened here during the tenure of SM Krishna, but it did not continue," he said.

'Will nab Gauri killers'

Asked if journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder case would be solved before the 2018 Assembly elections likely in April or May, the Home Minister said the Special Investigation Team would crack the case in a matter of weeks.

"We know who is behind the murder and we have identified the shooters, but I am not at liberty to discuss the case," Reddy said.

On late evening September 5, bike-borne assailants shot dead Gauri before her Rajarajeshwari Nagar residence.

The SIT, headed by senior IPS officer BK Singh, released sketches of three suspects recently.

DH News Service