NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Saturday informed the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) that as many as 60,000 cars have converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) since the odd-even restrictions started on January 1.
At a meeting called by EPCA to lay out a plan for the implementation of the recent SC order on curbing air pollution in Delhi, two public transport providers—Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC)— submitted that their services have become more efficient during the odd-even period. DTC'sridership has increased by 3 lakh per day while Metro, which usually sees a dip inridership in January, has been running packed.
"We missed nearly no bus trips, because of reduced congestion," a DTC official submitted. EPCA asked if Metro could do something to "incentivise car users to move to Metro" on the lines of what SC suggested recently—a premium service where passengers can book seats in Metros by paying more than the normal fare. It also asked whether Metro could increase its frequency from 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 2 minutes during peak hours, and from 3-4 minutes to 3 minutes during non-peak hours.
EPCA asked how many new coaches would be needed if car users started commuting by Metro. DMRC submitted that it has 1,282 coaches, and it takes about three years to get new coaches. By December 2017, when Metro's Phase III is complete, it will carry 45 lakh passengers per day, as against 28 lakh to 30 lakh now.
When EPCA asked if it could help in any way to get coaches sooner, the official said, "We have not planned for a sudden surge in demand." To this, EPCA said, "You have to say what additionally can be done to move car users."
Modernization of the city's ring rail was also discussed. "The frequency is pathetic and there is no last-mile connectivity," said an EPCA member about the railway. Officials said construction of the ring rail began in 1969 and ended in 1982. It was meant to carry suburban traffic but is now used by goods trains, making it difficult to improve train frequency.
"The circular rail is very important for us to start transit-oriented development (TOD) in the city," said an official. "Please give us a note on how the circular rail can be upgraded," said EPCA member Sunita Narain. EPCA also asked Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) to submit a plan for street design retrofitting and Metro station design so that they have parking and enough space for pick-up and drop.
Officials said app-based minibus service Shuttl has reported that its ridership has doubled from January 1 onwards, possibly because it provides last-mile connectivity from Metro stations. Most officials and EPCA members said the odd-even strategy has managed to make public transport a talking point in NCR.
