Why has odd-even system for autorickshaws, e-rickshaws been enforced in Panipat

Traffic chaos is a major problem ailing textile city ‘Panipat’. The district administration had launched several campaigns to reduce traffic jams on NH-44 and other major roads in the city, but to no avail. On September 1, the district administration decided to act tough and launched the odd-even traffic system for autorickshaws and e-rickshaws in the city on trial for a week. After it ended successfully, the administration decided to continue with the system.

But autorickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers went on strike for three days. Now, the drivers claim that the odd-even system has been ended, but the administration has clarified that no decision on abolishing the system has been taken so far.

Why does the city face traffic chaos?

The city has come up on both sides of NH-44 and major showrooms, banks, educational institutes, government offices, including mini secretariat and judicial complex, are situated on NH-44. Long traffic jams take place on NH-44, especially between Gohana road and Mini Secretariat on Delhi-Ambala side and from Barsat road to Gohana turn on Ambala-Delhi side. Even on other major roads – Assandh road, Sanoli road, Jatal road and other internal roads – traffic moves slowly, especially during school hours in the mornings and afternoons.

What are the major reasons behind traffic jams?

Traffic jams are not new to the city. One big reason for it are wrongly parked vehicles on both sides of NH-44 as well as on internal roads. The service lanes have been encroached upon by showroom owners with thousands of vehicles being parked on service roads permanently. Also, a huge number of autorickshaws and e-rickshaws ply on city roads.

What measures have been adopted to curb traffic chaos?

The district administration launched several traffic campaigns. The challan amount of illegally parked vehicles, wrong-side driving and others was hiked. Apart from it, parking has also been allotted in the blocks under the elevated highway. Now, the district administration has implemented the odd-even system to control the number of autos and e-rickshaws on the roads. According to the traffic police, 4,300 e-rickshaws and 3,400 three-wheelers have been registered but a higher number of these vehicles ply on the city roads.

When was the odd-even system implemented in Panipat City?

The district administration had implemented the odd-even formula for one week from September 1. After a successful week-long trial, the district administration continued with it after September 8. The decision was taken during a meeting of the District Road Safety and Surakshit School Vahan Policy chaired by Deputy Commissioner Virender Kumar Dahiya in the last week of August. The impact of this was seen on the roads as the traffic flowed smoothly on almost all the roads, including NH-44, in the city.

When the auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers went on strike, what were their main demands?

After 21 days of implementation of the odd-even system in the city, the auto and e-rickshaw drivers went on strike on September 22 with a demand to abolish it with immediate effect. Naresh Dahar, district president, Auto-e-rickshaw Drivers Union, said that their main demands are to abolish the odd-even system immediately and to provide parking stands to them under the elevated highway on NH-44. They also protested at MLA Pramod Vij’s office and also had a meeting with the district administration on Wednesday over their demands. In the evening, Naresh Dahar claimed that the odd-even system has been ended, but DSP Traffic Suresh Saini said no decision has been taken so far about it. He also said that the demands of the drivers have been noted and these would be placed before the higher authorities at a future meeting.