Putting aside their differences, the Centre and the AAP government in the Capital seem to have come together to effectively implement the odd-even scheme announced by Delhi government for plying of private vehicles in the city from January 1.
Coming as a relief for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhassured full support of the Centre and Delhi Police for the implementation of the new traffic scheme.
After meeting Singh on Wednesday, Kejriwal said he apprised the home minister of all the proposals and got a positive response. "He said the Centre and Delhi Police will completely support the move. He flagged few concerns like exempting vehicles carrying patients or being driven by women and other emergencies. Something has to be worked out on this. There are two-three suggestions. We will consider them and which may be exempted," Kejriwal told reporters.
Kejriwal also raised the issue of installation of CCTV cameras across Delhi to which Singh assured him of cooperation.
"We will be needing police's help in the case of CCTV cameras as well because ultimately the feed will go directly to them. The issue is in Delhi High Court now and there is needless bickering. We will together work this out," Kejriwal said.
The city government on Friday, in a radical step to curb air pollution, had announced that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1.
Asked whether his government was diluting the scheme in the face of criticism as it did not have a well-prepared scheme, Kejriwal said, "We had one option that we would continue doing homework for the next two years even as children would continue to die and cough. I would continue to cough as well. The second option was to take a concrete decision and work out the issues together. Let's do it for 15 days and learn and then do it again. What's the issue here?."
Kejriwal will hold a review meeting with all his Cabinet ministers and officials from transport, environment, PWD and revenue departments today The Delhi government will also hold a meeting with the heads of schools in the Capital to see if the school buses can be also roped in for the mission. The Delhi government is expected to come out with a detailed blueprint by December 25 which will answer all the questions being raised by experts and public on the scheme.
