LG calls for reducing DTC bus fares to promote use on public

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today asked the Delhi government to work out the modalities of reducing DTC bus fares, a move aimed at discouraging people from using personal vehicles and promote travel on public transport to bring down pollution level.
Jung, who held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Transport Minister Satyendar Jain and officials, directed the transport department to reduce bus fares across different slabs for the next two months keeping the winter season in mind.
Normally, winter months witness a spurt in pollution.
After spike in pollution, the authorities in Paris had recently made public transport free of cost to encourage people to shun private cars, a senior official said, adding that the Delhi government drew some inspiration from it.

In the meeting, the transport minister assured the LG that the department would work out the modalities of reducing the bus fares across different slabs.
Apart from this, Jung was assured by the PWD that by February end, all U-turns at Delhi borders, meant to turn away non-destined vehicles, will become operational.

The Lt Governor also said that special attention needs to be paid to reducing pollution at Anand Vihar after the Secretary (Environment) apprised him that pollution readings were high by 20 per cent there.
The measures, suggested to bring down pollution at Anand Vihar, include paving of ISBT (Anand Vihar) to reduce dust, Ghazipur landfill fire to be brought under control and dust control steps to be adopted at the Integrated Freight Complex at Anand Vihar.

The Secretary (Environment) also flagged the issue of idling of vehicles on city roads.
An official said that 200 traffic bottlenecks have been identified in Delhi and data has been shared with the agencies concerned so that traffic can be eased at these bottlenecks, which will reduce idling of vehicles and bring down vehicular pollution.
This can be done through road engineering, relocation of bus stops and through traffic cycle management.
The Secretary (Environment) also flagged the issue of loose soil which can be addressed by greening areas. Jain assured that by February end, greening of PWD roads would be completed.

The Commissioner of East Delhi Municipal Corporation said that apart from issuing challans for violation of construction /demolition norms, polluting factories and burning of leaves, two waste-to-energy plants are coming up at Shastri Park and East Vinod Nagar.
The North civic body commissioner informed Jung that Bhalsawa fire is completely under control.
The Special CP (Traffic) informed that 58,209 vehicles have been checked at the Delhi borders, out of which 11,585 non-destined vehicles have been turned back.
As many as 6,962 vehicles have been challaned for not carrying 'Pollution Under Control' certificates. Ninety-three vehicles carrying uncovered construction material have been challaned. Seventy-one diesel vehicles, which are more than 15 years old, have been impounded.

Twenty-five bookings have been done for those violating ban on DG sets/firecrackers.
The transport department has issued 1,220 challans for overloading. 3,118 vehicles have been challaned for not carrying Pollution Under Control Certificates and 9,696 vehicles have been challaned for being visibly polluting.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee said it has closed 42 units of polluting factories in industrial areas and 81 in redevelopment areas.
"Keeping in mind the onset of winter, our efforts must not abate and we must do all we can to check pollution through the winter months," the LG said, adding that he would review the status of air pollution in Delhi after 15 days.