‘Cap entry of vehicles from neighbouring states during CWG’

NEW DELHI - The Delhi government should restrict entry of vehicles from neighbouring states during the Commonwealth Games in October in order to check pollution level in the city, said Bhure Lal, who heads the Supreme Court appointed Pollution Monitoring Committee.

“There is a need to put cap on number of vehicles as we have already exhausted road bearing capacity. The government must restrict entry of vehicles from adjoining states during the games,” he said.

Bhure Lal was speaking at a discussion on ‘Clean air before the Commonwealth Games’ organised by the Centre for Science and Environment.

“The government should ensure that only public transport ply on Delhi roads during the Games,” he added.

Managing traffic during the upcoming Games is a big challenge for the Delhi government this year. The Delhi Traffic police are also planning to have dedicated lanes during the Games for swift movement of athletes and delegates.

The Indian capital is among the most polluted cities in the world. Its major problem is an ever-growing number of cars, three- and two-wheelers, which occupy a staggering 75 percent of the road space but only 20 percent of the commuting public use.

Delhi has over five million vehicles and another four million come to the metropolis from towns in the national capital region in adjoining states.