IGL worker takes bribe for CNG sticker, suspended

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, January 5

Around 1,600 motorists were today penalised for violating odd-even norms even as the Delhi Government claimed the cut in vehicular emission due to the scheme has resulted in "definitive decline" in levels of pollutants in the air across the city.

Cracking down on illegal sale of CNG stickers, necessary for getting CNG vehicles exempted from the restrictions, the government has decided to limit its sale to only one station of Indraprastha Gas Ltd as against 114 places across Delhi and NCR.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the decision to limit number of CNG station selling stickers to one was taken after reports of unscrupulous elements selling stickers to owners of non-CNG vehicles.

He said one Dipak Sen from Vivek Vihar CNG station was "caught" selling CNG stickers to non-CNG vehicles and he had "admitted" to the crime. He was selling the sticker for Rs 2,800. The Indraprastha Gas Ltd has registered a case against him at Vivek Vihar police station, Rai said.

So far, CNG stickers were available at 95 CNG stations in Delhi and another 19 stations in NCR. One LPG car owner was also caught today for driving around pasting a CNG sticker.

In the light of malpractice in issuance of CNG stickers, Transport minister Gopal Rai has directed IGL officials to issue stickers only at CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, under strict monitoring and ordered checking of vehicles bearing CNG stickers on a random basis.

Rai also announced that from 6 am tomorrow, IGL will stop issuance of CNG stickers at its stations across Delhi and NCR except CGO Complex where it will be available for 24 hours while adding that adequate number of such stickers have already been issued.

Traffic movement largely smooth

The traffic movement on roads, which saw mostly odd-numbered cars, was largely smooth as observed by daily commuters Amanpreet Singh, who goes to Gurgaon from South Delhi, till early evening as people are opting for alternative mode of transport and with carpooling or hiring taxis having emerged another solution for the city's commuters. 

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai, who attributed "carpooling" for reduction in traffic, today thanked Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and his colleagues for being supportive of the odd-even formula and leading the way in making Delhi pollution-free. 

"The CJI has inspired people who had doubts about the odd even campaign and refrained from participating in the initiative. Their actions has brought a change in people's thought-process," Rai who also welcomed the Supreme Court's order pertaining to diverting diesel-run vehicles and trucks to other routes rather than using the national Capital for transit purposes. 

Rai said in the last 24 hours, around 7,000 people have downloaded the "Poocho-App" taking the total to 32,000 and daily's average number of users stands at 8,000-9,000. 

(With PTI inputs)