BMC wants to try out odd-even scheme in Mumbai

Mumbai’s civic body has taken a cue from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and proposed the implementation of the odd-even rule in the country’s financial capital.

In the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) report of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), it has suggested that the odd-even formula be tried out in Mumbai in a bid to keep the pollution and traffic in check. “The BMC had constituted an agency to seek recommendations from various stakeholders like MMRDA, traffic police, for the mobility plan. We have received them and now are in the process of forwarding them to the Government,” Sanjay Darade, Chief Engineer, Road Department, told PTI.

The report, prepared by BMC’s Road Department, will be presented to civic chief Ajoy Mehta. The civic body’s chief will then forward it to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for consideration.

“One of the suggestions included in the report is to implement odd-even formula in Mumbai to curb rising air pollution and vehicular traffic. It is up to the Government to decide whether to implement the suggestion or not,” Additional Municipal Commissioner Pallavi Darade told PTI.

Under the odd-even scheme, which has been implemented by the Delhi government twice for a period of two weeks each, cars with odd and even-numbered license plates ply on alternate days. Although Delhi CM had termed the scheme a huge success, Maharashtra CM had said that the scheme would be of little consequence in Mumbai.

Other suggestions in the report include restrictions on registration of new private vehicles, car pooling, introduction of low emission norms and undertaking of road safety initiatives.