The Aam Aadmi Party government’s odd-even scheme is expected to be rolled out again in April as per indications from its Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
This, even as a survey conducted by the AAP’s Trade Wing among 21,450 businessmen across the city posited that as many as 84 per cent were in favour of the scheme. Similarly, a survey by online petition forum Change.org arrived at a similar conclusion.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that an announcement will be made after reviewing over 11 lakh responses received from the public through multiple channels, while Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia suggested that the licence plate policy will be back “once again”. Sources, meanwhile, said that the next phase may come in April after the CBSE Board examinations.
“The scheme is all set to make a comeback. Ministers, including the Chief Minister, will announce the dates in a press conference tomorrow,” said a senior government official after Mr. Rai tweeted: “Delhi government will take a decision on the future of odd-even tomorrow. The public feedback report is being prepared today.”
“Around 28,300 suggestions have been received through online forms, while another 9,000 and 1,82,808 have come through emails and missed calls respectively. The government has made more than 9,00,000 calls to gather public opinion,” the official added.
According Brijesh Goel, convenor of the AAP’s Trade Wing, a survey conducted across popular markets like Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Khari Baoli, Khan Market and Gandhi Nagar among others had suggested that 84 percent of the respondents were in favour of a repeat of the scheme.
According to a statement released by Change.org, Delhiites would not mind another round of the scheme with 78 per cent of those surveyed seeking its re-introduction. Around 53 per cent backed its implementation based on responses from 13,500 Delhiites undertaken between January 28 and February 9.
“Almost 13,500 Delhiites participated in the survey, of whom 10,514 were in favour of the scheme while 2,940 voted against it,” said Preethi Herman, India head of the portal.
The report has been sent to the Transport Department, another functionary of the portal said.
