Odd-even scheme impact seen in Faridabad too

Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, November 4

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The ‘odd-even’ scheme implemented by the Delhi Government from Monday to tackle the problem of pollution mirrored its impact on the residents of Faridabad and Palwal districts as well.

Several commuters had to drop the idea of using their personal vehicles to follow the rule. Over 10,000 people use their vehicles to commute to Delhi, Noida and other parts of the NCR daily, it is reported.

“Though a detailed report regarding the impact is yet to be prepared, around 5,000 personal cars might have been abandoned on the first day today by commuters of Faridabad, Ballabgarh, who travel to the national capital and parts of NCR in connection with work,” claims SK Sharma, state vice-president of the Road Safety Organisation (RSO), an NGO. Demanding that the formula should continue for at least the winter season, he said it would definitely yield positive results, as the pollution level had already crossed a dangerous level. The odd-even formula will affect the plying of around 25,000 personal vehicles in the neighbouring city of Gurugram, he said.

Seeking a similar formula for three-wheeler auto-rickshaws in the city here, Ajay Chaudhary, a local resident, claimed that 30,000 auto-rickshaws were also a prime source of pollution. “I took the Metro instead of my personal car to reach office in Delhi due to the odd-even scheme,” said Rajiv Kumar, a resident of NIT, here. He said some of his friends had to take the Metro to comply with the new regulation. “My colleagues and I had to pool in one car to reach our workplace in Noida,” said Rajnish, another resident.

Abhash Chandila, district convenor of AAP, said the state government needs to come up with a long-term strategy to contain pollution. The local police have issued an advisory to residents asking them to remain alert as the scheme was implemented today.