Odd-even scheme: Delhi government ministers come to office in motorbike, bus

New Delhi: The ministers of Kejriwal cabinet used different modes of transport - motorbike, e-rickshaw, bus and car pooling to come to Delhi Secretariat on the first day of 15 days trial of odd-even formula of road-rationing in the national capital.

While complimenting the people of Delhi for "success" of odd-even formula, the ministers also said that future implementation of the scheme will depend on the people and how they respond to it.

Delhi Tourism minister Kapil Mishra was the first to rode to the Secretariat on his motorbike a few minutes before 9 am.

"It took me just 20 minutes to cover the distance from my Yamuna Vihar residence to Secretariat which normally would take 1.5 hours on any day," said the young minister.

"There is different scene on the roads and traffic is less. I did not see any violator on the road. Since people of Delhi are sacrificing, we will also be sacrificing," said Mishra who owes an odd numbered car.

"I could have driven in my odd numbered car today but I have decided to commute to Secretariat for next 14 days on my motorbike," he said adding that he was riding bike after a gap of 5-6 months.

Next to arrive was Deputy CM Manish Sisodia who came in his official odd numbered car.

Sisodia said the people of Delhi were participating in a "virtuous" initiative to reduce pollution adding that he also did not find any even numbered car on the road.

"People of Delhi have adopted it (odd-even) as their own mission and the government is just helping them. This is the ideal situation in this campaign," he said.

Sisodia hoped that with the 15 days trail people will get used to odd-even formula which will help in lowering high pollution level in the city.

The odd-even formula implemented in Delhi is being watched all over the world, if successful it could be implemented in other cities also, Sisodia said adding that after 15 days further steps against pollution will evolve out of the experiment.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who will be car-polling during 15 days of odd-even experiment, arrived at Secretariat at around 10.45 am. He was accompanied by his cabinet colleagues PWD and Health minister Satyender Jain and Transport minister Gopal Rai.

Social Welfare minister of Delhi government Sandeep Kumar took a bus to reach Secretariat while his colleague and Environment and Forest minister Imran Hussain arrived in an e-rickshaw.