Transport Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday hinted at the possibility of implementing phase III of the odd-even initiative during winter.
The first and second phases of the road-rationing scheme were enforced in January and April this year with a view to combat air pollution.
The Transport Minister also spoke on the creation of dedicated bus lanes and construction of cycle tracks in south Delhi.
“There is no need to implement the third phase of the odd-even scheme during the monsoon season as pollution is at the lowest level. Whenever the scheme is implemented, it would be in the winter when pollution levels are high,” Mr. Jain said told reporters at the Delhi Secretariat.
Bus lanes
Mr. Jain, who took charge of the Transport Department from his Cabinet colleague Gopal Rai recently, said the notification for the imposition of a fine of Rs. 2,000 on motorists obstructing the plying of buses on lanes dedicated for their movement would be issued by the end of July.
“The government is in the process to finalise the modalities of the new rules which will come into effect by the end of this month,” he said.
Government sources also said that it was working on introducing new bus routes, which it intends to be operational on 500 km of roads with a width of 100 to 150 feet.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jain said the scrapping of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in south Delhi was proceeding as per plan with the demolition part having been completed; construction of new roads and footpaths will, however, be carried out after the monsoon.
Mr. Jain added that a proposal for a new cycle track in South Delhi had been presented to the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Planning & Engineering Centre, and hoped that the project will get the nod from required agencies.
