Odd-even: Police educate violators, fine 138

BJP MP Satyapal Singh stopped for travelling in even-numbered car, Bassi urges Delhiites to cooperate with police

Thousands of Delhi policemen educated and fined offenders on the first day of the odd-even road rationing policy, easing up, to some extent, the confrontation between the police force and the Delhi government over its implementation.

The cops found one of the first offenders in BJP MP Baghpat Satyapal Singh, whose white even-numbered SUV was stopped while travelling near India Gate, even as the police did not confirm whether Mr Singh’s driver was prosecuted. The former Mumbai police commissioner was handed over a leaflet by traffic personnel for violating the rule as well. A total of 138 vehicles were fined for not adhering to the odd-even measure.

Delhi police commissioner B.S. Bassi on Friday did his bit in implementing the odd-even scheme and stopped two even-numbered private cars plying on the road, but both turned out to be CNG vehicles, which are exempted under the initiative.

When the top cop was on his way to office in the morning, he saw two cars with even registration numbers moving ahead of his vehicle. He then asked his men to stop the suspected offenders, but the vehicles were CNG cars, said a source.

Mr Bassi once again appealed to people on Friday morning to cooperate with his force throughout the 15-day period during which the initiative will be in force. “I appeal to people to cooperate with the Delhi traffic police for 15 days,” the top cop said, adding, “I assure that adequate personnel have been deployed for implementation of the scheme throughout the city.”

“Today’s focus will largely be on educating people about the scheme. However, prosecution for violating the same shall be in place,” Mr Bassi said and reiterated that no volunteer shall work independently and no vigilantism will be permitted.

Remaining on their toes for the first half of the day, more than 3,000 traffic police officials, who were deployed strategically across the national capital, ensured that the road-rationing restrictions were not violated. “More than 3,000 traffic police officials were deployed across the city following a well-drafted strategy and they have been specially briefed about the scheme,” said a senior traffic police official. After 2 pm, the Delhi traffic police eased up their presence a bit, and few were seen barricading the roads and stopping offenders.

Thousands of volunteers were seen assisting police teams at several major stretches and intersections in the city, including the ITO junction which witnessed the first prosecution under the first-of-its-kind initiative. “The offender, who was driving a car with its registration number ending with 2 (even), was prosecuted at the ITO intersection around 8.33 am, following which he was slapped with the stipulated Rs 2,000 fine,” a traffic official said.