Odd-even driving rule in bengaluru too? Govt thinking about it

The Karnataka government is open to adopting the odd-even driving rule, which Delhi is set to implement for two weeks next year, in Bengaluru, _The New Indian Express_ reported. Home

Minister G Parameshwara told reporters that managing the city’s traffic was a great challenge and that the government was working towards implementing various methods to easing the flow of

traffic. He said that around 58 lakh vehicles, including 32 lakh two-wheelers, ply on the city’s roads and the numbers are on the rise. The minister added that the government is planning to

revamp the existing Bengaluru Traffic Task Force, which is headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This task force will include the Department of Infrastructure and Urban Development along

with other civic agencies, the report states. Adding that there was a shortage of police personnel to look after traffic, he said that the government is also planning to hire 16,000 police

personnel in the next two years. The Delhi government introduced the odd-even driving rule to reduce the almost alarming levels of air pollution in the national capital. The Delhi High Court

had observed, “It seems like we are living in a gas chamber” and had asked the government to observe “zero tolerance” against those violating rules. According to this rule, private vehicles

with odd and even registration numbers would be allowed to ply on alternate days on the city’s roads. The rule will initially be implemented for a period of two-weeks from January 2016 and

those found violating could be fined up to Rs 2,000 or even more.