Delhi government spent Rs 20 crore on odd-even scheme

The Delhi government spent over Rs 20 crore to implement the 15-day odd-even scheme in the national capital.

The Delhi government decided to roll out the odd-even scheme, where cars with odd- or even-numbered plates were allowed to ply the roads on odd and even days, respectively, only. The move was made to try and reign in alarmingly high levels of pollution in the city.

According to an HT report, the Delhi government spent nearly Rs 14 crore to hire buses -- the Delhi Transport Corporation hired nearly 1,200 buses -- to ensure people had enough public transport resources to travel. 

These buses were hired at Rs 42 per km, with the corporation promising to pay for 225 km minimum per day -- which comes up to about Rs 14 crore, the report says. The corporation is known to have earned Rs 23 lakh a day from bus fare, totaling Rs 3.5 crore, the report said.

Another Rs 3.5 crore was paid to volunteers who motivated people to adhere to the pilot scheme and handed out flowers. According to the report, nearly 5,000 volunteers were paid Rs 500 per day for 13 days, while the amount spent on buying flowers isn't known.

Rs 4 crore was spent on advertising to make sure that word about the government's plan spread across the length and breadth of the city -- Rs 3 crore in the run up to the implementation of the scheme and Rs 1 crore as thanksgiving ads.

The government gave ads in print, tv, radio and even outdoor hoardings.