Odd-even 2nd phase: CNG cars to ply; decision on women drivers pending

NEW DELHI, March 29:  CNG cars have been kept out of the ambit of the odd-even scheme, that is set to return for a fortnight on April 15, while a decision on whether women drivers will continue to be exempted will be taken soon, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said today. "CNG stickers will be available from April 1 at a centre near CGO Complex at Lodhi Road. The centre will remain open from 8 AM to 8 PM everyday. Personally, I am in favour of exempting women, but the opinion is divided according to the survey we undertook. We will put out the final notification on April 8," he told reporters here. Rai said he will write to the governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh urging them to create awareness on the guidelines of the road rationing measure under which cars with odd and even licence plates ply on alternate days. Trial of the air quality monitoring system, that will be put in place during the 15-day period till April 30, will begin on April 6, he said. On its part, the Delhi government will launch a publicity campaign, 'Dilli bole dil se, odd even phir se', on April 1 during which multiple communication channels like television and radio and advertisements on buses and metro will be used to reach out to the people. Rai said registration of additional buses that will be pressed into service during the period, have already started while the process to involve ex-servicemen who are to be deployed along with civil defence volunteers will begin soon. "On April 13, volunteers as well drivers of DTC and Delhi Metro officials among others will assemble at the Chhatrasal stadium and take oath to make the drive successful," he said. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the coordination committee that comprises members of several departments of the government. The first phase of the odd-even scheme was rolled out on January 1 for 15 days. A committee, headed by the Transport Commissioner, has also been appointed to find ways to improve 'Poochh-O' app which helps commuters during the odd-even measure