NEW DELHI: As a two-hour trial run of the odd-even scheme was held here on Thursday, the Delhi government announced two helpline numbers and a Twitter handle for those stuck without commuting options during its implementation from January 1.
Commuters can register their complaints or seek any other help on the odd-even scheme through these contact numbers, Transport Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here.
"If people face any problem during the (implementation of) odd-even scheme till January 15, they can call on 011-42400400/41400400 or register their complaints on Twitter handle @transportdelhi," Rai said.
"Complaints will be immediately resolved. However, with elaborate preparations already in place, the chances of any inconvenience to the people are low," he said.
Speaking about his plans for commuting to office at the Delhi Secretariat on January 1, Rai told reporters that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will share his odd-numbered car with him and health minister Satyendra Jain.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will travel by his odd-numbered car on the first day of the drive. However, he will ride a bicycle to office on January 2.
Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra will commute by his motorcycle from his Yamuna Vihar residence. Environment Minister Imran Hussain will travel in an auto-rickshaw on odd-numbered days since he has an even-numbered car.
Social Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar has decided to commute by a city bus from the Kashmiri Gate bus terminus to the ITO in central Delhi. From ITO, he will walk down to the Secretariat.
The Delhi government's 15-day odd-even scheme will be enforced from Friday in a bid to control pollution in the national capital.
Odd-numbered cars will be allowed to ply on odd dates and even-numbered cars on even dates, barring Sundays when all cars will be allowed.
Compressed Natural Gas-run cars with special stickers, public buses, CNG auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, women drivers and VIP vehicles, among others, are exempted.
Rai said 3,000 additional buses have been arranged to handle extra pressure on public transport, including 1,800 school buses and 1,200 private contract carriage buses.
"The work of registration and issuance of permits to additional buses has been completed. These extra buses are expected to ferry 18,000 to 20,000 people daily. For commuters travelling from Noida to Gurgaon and vice versa, we will run 60 special buses," Rai said.
Delhi Transport Corporation has formed 45 teams to monitor its fleet of buses. Similarly, Delhi Metro Rail has constituted 29 teams to monitor the frequency and operations of metro trains during the fortnight.
As many as 200 teams of civil defence volunteers will be deployed at different traffic intersections in the city. They will give roses to those violating the odd-even rule, make them aware about the restriction and request them to go back home.
As many as 200 teams of Delhi traffic police will fine violators across the city.
"The violators can be asked to pay Rs.2,000 as fine only once in a day. However, they may be stopped several times for checking and asked to go home," Rai said.
"As many as 66 enforcement teams of the transport department and 40 teams led by sub-divisional magistrates will be monitoring the entire drive," the minister added.
Meanwhile, around 200 points across the national capital were chosen for the trial run of the odd-even scheme between 9 and 11 a.m. to test coordination between various agencies.
The transport minister visited several places like the ITO, Delhi Gate and Rajghat to take stock of the trial run.