Delhi gets dedicated Twitter handle & hashtag for odd-even car rule
With the new, odd-even car rule scheduled to go live from the New Year, the Delhi administration is leaving nothing to chance, in its efforts to make sure it is successful. In recognition of the fact that most commuters have an active social media presence, the government has turned to Twitter for help. The platform will be bringing in real-time public-transportation updates to anyone in need who reaches out to them at the dedicated Twitter handle @TransportDelhi.
The odd-even rule will be in effect for a fortnight and during this time, commuters will be able to access real-time information on public transport options available to them. From bus routes to Metro timings and even availability of auto-rickshaws, commuters will get them all via Twitter. All one has to do is reach out with their location and time of departure to the dedicated handle and Twitter will get back with options on a real-time basis. A special hashtag, #PollutionFreeDelhi too has been created for the convenience of commuters.
A joint-effort on behalf of the Delhi Government and Twitter, the public-information dissemination plan should go a long way in ensuring its success. The Honourable Transport Minister for Delhi, Shri Gopal Rai, said in a media briefing: “For car commuters who do not know anything about buses and Metro routes, we have shared all this data with Twitter. Twitter has prepared at the backend for this service. ”
Twitter’s India’s Head for News, Politics and Government, Raheel Khurshid, too added his two bits in explaining how the service would work at the platform end: “We decided to team up with Delhi govt and figure out how to solve the vacuum of information in the run up to the odd-even policy. On the back end, at transport Delhi, which goes live on 31st, we have empowered the @TransportDelhi to reply to any citizen’s queries in real time.
You just have to tweet your origin and destination with the #PollutionFreeDelhi and shortest possible public transport options will come to you as a card or as a direct message,” said Khurshid.
The Metro services too shall be increased during the fortnight that the odd-even rule is in place. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) shall operate over 1000 extra services for the convenience of commuters. The Delhi Metro will thus operate over 3000 services daily from 1st January, to 15th January, 2016.
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