Government to give subsidy on cycles using odd-even challan amount

NEW DELHI: Seeking to promote cycling in the national capital, Delhi government today said it will provide subsidy on purchase of cycles, from the money collected as challans during the odd-even scheme's implementation period.

Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that once the car- rationing pilot plan is wrapped up, the government will constitute a committee to work out further modalities of the this proposed idea.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the Coordination Committee on the odd-even scheme, chaired by Rai.

"We have decided to give subsidy on purchase of cycles using the money collected through challans for odd-even violations, to promote cycling in the national capital. The government's move is aimed at motivating people to use cycles as part of its drive of making Delhi pollution-free," he said.

Under the road-rationing scheme implemented on January 1, one has to cough up Rs 2,000 for violating the vehicle-restriction rules.

From January 1 to 8, traffic police, transport and revenue departments have issued 5,893 challans for the violations so far.

The transport minister also appealed to Delhiites to use bycles for their daily-need every day instead of using bikes in their colonies and said that government will build cycle tracks and stands on roads.

After the end of the odd-even scheme, we will expedite the work of promoting cycling in Delhi. The penalty amount collected through violation of odd-even rules will be utilised to give subsidy to those who want to buy cycles, Rai further said.

"There are no cycle tracks on main roads in Delhi, but government appeals to people to at least use cycles in their colonies, mohallas where they can easily ride them and where the possibility of road accidents are also less.

"Instead of using bikes, people can use cycles for their small household works like buying milk," he said.

Aiming to cut down air pollution in the city, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government has implemented a 15-day-long odd-even scheme, which came into force on January 1.