Odd-even traffic violators won’t get to park in Delhi, says government

NEW DELHI: Commuters flouting the odd-even traffic restrictions coming into effect from Friday may find it difficult to park their vehicle. The Delhi government on Wednesday issued an order asking civic bodies and other agencies to prevent violators from accessing authorised parking spaces in the city.

The road rationing measure, which aims to reduce the toxic levels of air pollution in the city, will be on trial from January 1 to 15. Government officials said parking attendants will be asked to strictly enforce the rule and will be told about exemptions to the order. Violating cars could even be towed away.

Traffic police officers said, once challaned against a fine of Rs 2,000, commuters would save themselves a lot of hassle by just heading back home or quickly reaching their destination. For, a violator will have to produce the e-challan copy every time he is stopped by the cops.

The challan would also mention the time of the offence. Although a driver cannot be challaned twice in a day, senior traffic officials said if someone is seen on the road more than two hours after being fined, he would be asked to explain his continued violation of the rule.

"Our objective is to ensure minimum harassment. We would ask an errant driver to go back and park his vehicle to avoid being repeatedly harassed. But we don't expect too many commuters to continue driving after being challaned," said Muktesh Chander, special commissioner, traffic.

Traffic officers said violators of the odd-even rule, in addition to the fine, may also be counselled by volunteers. They said their proposal to issue another challan after two hours was shot down at the meeting between the police and government, as it does not have legal sanction.

However, police would try and make it difficult for violators to move freely in the city after being challaned. As per the orders by the government, entry and exit of vehicles from parking lots maintained by DDA, municipal bodies, PWD, DMRC and Delhi Cantonment Board would be out of bounds for violating vehicles.

Government officials said such vehicles could be towed away. However, police said they would seek further clarity on the parking policy since it would be difficult to distinguish between violators and exempted cars in the parking lots.