Transport Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot was on a study tour to observe public transport systems

OFFICE OF THE TRANSPORT MINISTER

                                                         GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI

                                                             DELHI SECRETARIAT 

DATED : 30/09/2019 

Witnessed free transport scheme in Geneva, Odd-Even style road rationing in Brussels: Transport and Environment Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot

Transport Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot was on a study tour to observe public transport systems

New Delhi: Delhi Environment and Transport Minister, Shri Kailash Gahlot visited Brussels, Paris and Geneva during the period 25-27 September, 2019 on a Study Tour organized by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).  UITP is headquartered in Brussels (Belgium). During the Study Tour, the Transport Minister was accompanied by Pr. Secretary-cum-Commissioner (Transport), MD, Delhi Transport Corporation and other senior officers of the Transport Department in Delhi.  

Gahlot’s visit comes at a time when Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal has directed the government to focus on reducing Delhi’s carbon emissions and reducing air pollution. “Although Delhi is already doing a lot to improve public transport, the world is moving at a faster speed in terms of electric transport. We will make Delhi the EV capital of the country, and we have already placed an order for 1,000 electric buses. Delhi needs to plan to convert the entire fleet of transport vehicles into e-transport in a fixed time frame,” said the chief minister.

On his return, Shri Gahlot briefed Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal with regard to the initiatives in public transport taking place at these places.  “All these cities are in the process of changing over to e-buses fleet and are grappling with the challenges of cost and charging infrastructure. We will also plan to replace our entire fleet with electric in the long run. Operation of e-scooters on sharing basis in Brussels can also be considered as an option for last mile connectivity in Delhi,” shared Gahlot with the chief minister.

Delhi has already experimented with odd-even scheme to combat air pollution.  The next odd-even is scheduled to be held during the period November 4 to November 15, 2019.  “Brussels is experimenting with a similar scheme but the primary intention is to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Towards this end, Brussels has recently introduced the concept of `Car Free Sunday’ when the entire public transport is made free.  As with our odd-even scheme a number of exemptions are provided during this scheme so that genuine people are not inconvenienced,” said Gahlot.

Another interesting feature which was noticed in Geneva is the `Free Public Transport’ being provided to the guests staying in some of the hotels in Geneva. Shri Gahlot said, “By virtue of an arrangement between many hotels and the Transport Authority in Geneva, as soon as a guest checks in, he is provided with a Geneva Transport Card free of charge. With this card public transport in Geneva is free for the full duration of his stay.  In fact our entire delegation has used free public transport during their stay in Geneva on the basis of Transport Card received from the hotel.”