Don't exempt women motorists from odd-even formula: Women groups

NEW DELHIL: No exemptions under the odd-even scheme should be given to women motorists, a number of women groups have conveyed to Delhi government saying that they also want to be a part of pollution-clean drive.

The Arvind Kejriwal government is, however, yet to take a final call on exempting women drivers under road-rationing experiment starting January 1.

According to the scheme, odd numbered vehicles will be allowed on odd dates and even numbered vehicles on even dates.

"Some women organisations have approached the government not to grant exemption to women drivers in the odd-even formula as they also want to be a part of this pollution-clean drive. However, government will soon take a decision in this regard," the Delhi Transport minister Gopal Rai said.

Rai said the government will soon launch a campaign to encourage people to be a part of odd-even formula with the help of AAP volunteers, Civil Defence and NCC cadets so that people follow this formula.

Later in the day, Rai held a meeting with MLAs seeking their suggestions on rationing plan of bus routes in their constituency ahead of odd-even formula.

"We sought suggestions from MLAs on which routes numbers of buses should be increased in their areas so that people don't have to face problems while commuting public transport during a 15-day trial period of odd-even scheme," Rai said.

Earlier this month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and PWD Minister Satyendar Jain had met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari respectively seeking Centre's cooperation for the implementation of this scheme.

Rai had also met Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to increase frequency of local trains on Ring Railway.