The Delhi government on Monday announced all vehicles will be allowed to ply on roads on Sundays, as it prepared for a meet to come up with modalities for its ambitious traffic plan to curb pollution.
A public interest petition, however, was filed in the Delhi High Court against the government's decision to allow private vehicles with even and odd numbered plates on alternate days as a measure to reduce traffic and air pollution in the city.
Delhi's two ministers, whose respective departments will play crucial roles in implementing the plan, differed with each other on whether or not the proposed ban would apply to two-wheelers.
"We will allow all vehicles to ply on Sunday because of less traffic. People can go out shopping (in their cars)," Public Works Department Minister Satyendra Jain said, adding two-wheelers would not be banned.
Talking to a TV news channel, he said: "Ban will only be on private vehicles. There will no ban on taxis, autos and two-wheelers."
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Transport Minister Gopal Rai, however, opined two-wheelers would also be within the ambit of the new regulation. "So far the ban will apply both on four-wheelers and two-wheelers," Rai said.
The Delhi government's spokesperson Nagendar Sharma said the blueprint on decision is yet come.
"Government is flooded with suggestions and all are being considered carefully. Nothing should be treated as final till blueprint is out in public domain," Sharma said.
A review meeting of the Delhi government on the issue is slated on Tuesday while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Advocate R.K. Kapoor, meanwhile, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, stating the government should be restrained from enforcing the decision.
Representing the petitioner, lawyer Shweta Kapoor wondered if it was in the public interest to make a policy for restricted movement of private vehicles, specifically privately-owned cars, without having conducted a detailed study about its pros and cons and without considering the disturbing effect the same would have on the public at large.
The air pollution in Delhi has reached alarmingly high levels. So much so that it has pipped Bejing as the world's most polluted city.
The issue was also raised in the lower house of parliament with BJP member from Delhi Mahesh Giri saying it was a unilateral decision. "No thought was given to this. It would have been better if a collective decision had been taken."
