Delhi’s Schools and colleges will remain closed during the Commonwealth Games. This was informed in a high level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to control the pollution level during the 2010 Games. 1200 school buses and 2500 maxi cabs will remain off the roads due to closure of the school.

The DTC has added 2000 new buses. Its target is to make it 3800 before Commonwealth Games. Apart from this repairing and refurbishing of old buses is being taken up. A comprehensive program of imparting training to drivers is also on. Airport Express Metro Line will be commissioned in September, 2010.

Dikshit stated that there will be an unprecedented increase in quantum of traffic during the Games. It will be in the fitness of things if number of vehicles coming from other states may be minimized at least during those days. It may be recalled that around one million vehicles have been daily entering into the Capital city. A concern was expressed about the entry of non-destined vehicles to Delhi entering the Capital city to reach their destination. It was further suggested that the work on Western Peripheral Expressway may be expedited to ensure its completion before October, 2010.

Further it was mentioned that pollution level in Delhi is going up due to entry of polluting vehicles from neighbouring states. It was decided to contact the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to facilitate pollution check of vehicles coming to Delhi inside their respective territories so that the polluting vehicles could be forced to take a u-turn to avoid their entry in Delhi. It was also decided to intensify Pollution Check Drive in Delhi and exhort people to go for regular Pollution Under Control (PUC) check. They may be inspired to make it a non-separable part of their habit. The Chief Minister underlined to formulate a Games-oriented strategy to bring air pollution down. A suggestion was also presented to shut down coal-based power stations during the days of Games. The government may consider this in case of Rajghat Power Station which is generating 135 MW power.