File photo of DDC vice-chairman Ashish Khetan.
With odd-even scheme for private vehicles set to start from January 1 in the capital, the Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the AAP government, today held a day-long consultation with over a dozen providers to enable and expand ridesharing, carpooling, and shuttle services for the citizens.
A senior official said DDC vice-chairman Ashish Khetan will submit the blueprint to the government by early next week on the carpooling policy and how it can be effectively implemented.
This consultation explored the challenges and opportunities in providing and rapidly expanding these solutions to minimize the apprehensions in the minds of car commuters, when the air pollution control measures will be implemented from the new year.
The consultations focused, in particular, on security features, such as a process to verify the identities of drivers and riders who participate via carpooling apps, audit log mechanisms, liabilities, and SOS alert mechanisms.
"To develop the framework of ridesharing and carpooling services, the government of Delhi also examined how such services are delivered in other countries, such as Singapore, Ireland and others," the official said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who assured full support of the Centre and Delhi Police to the AAP government on implementing its odd-even scheme for plying of private vehicles in the city from January 1.
After the meeting, Chief Minister Kejriwal said he apprised Singh of all the proposals during his nearly 40-minute-long meeting with the Home Minister, whose response was "very positive".