Odd-even plan brings relief to Rohtak

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Rohtak, November 7

The odd-even auto-rickshaw scheme jointly launched by district police and administrative authority here on Thursday brought a major relief for locals as it not only eased traffic congestion in the city but also improved air quality. Light showers also helped in making the air quality better. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was 175 here today.

Rohtak was reported among the most polluted cities across the nation on Sunday with an AIQ touching the figure of 498 as computed by the Central Pollution Control Board. It was four points higher than that of Delhi.

The situation not only troubled children, elderly people and those suffering from respiratory diseases but also forced the district authorities to close government and private schools on November 4 and 5 to protect school children from this polluted environment.

Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the district police and administrative authorities joined hands to combat the critical situation and decided to make odd-even auto-rickshaw arrangement for two days on the pattern of Delhi to bring down the pollution level down as the auto-rickshaw is one of the major factors responsible for polluted air quality.

“More than 6,500 auto-rickshaws are plying in the city hence we held a meeting with office-bearers of auto-rickshaw association and encouraged them to ensure their contribution in preserving the environment. The meeting unanimously resolved to run odd-even auto-rickshaw scheme for two days. As per decision, only those auto-rickshaws having odd registration number will ply on Thursday and having even number on Friday,” said DSP (Traffic) Mahesh Kumar, adding that all auto-rickshaws would be able to run as usual from Saturday.

Mukesh Bagri, a social activist, said it was a good move and had also succeeded to provide local residents a relief from traffic congestion and pollution to a large extent.

“Picture of crowded places like Bhiwani Stand, Durga Bhawan Temple, Kachha Beri road, Gohana Adda, Chhotu Ram Chowk, Sonepat Stand, Ashoka Chowk, Bapu Park, Medical turn and power house was changed today as vehicular traffic was smooth and no traffic jam was witnessed due to half the number of auto-rickshaws on the road,” Bagri pointed out.

Amit Kumar, a home guard jawan deputed at Chhotu Ram Chowk, informed the odd-even scheme reduced the vehicular traffic by more than 50 percent while Ramesh, a shopkeeper at Bhiwani Stand, said the authority should contemplate to run this scheme on regular basis so as to keep environment healthy and to resolve traffic issues in future too.

‘Step towards preserving environment’

More than 6,500 auto-rickshaws are plying in the city. Hence, we held a meeting with office-bearers of auto-rickshaw association and encouraged them to ensure their contribution to preserving the environment. The meeting unanimously resolved to run odd-even auto-rickshaw scheme for two days. Auto-rickshaws with odd registration numbers plied on Thursday and those with even numbers will ply on Friday, — Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of police (traffic)