CJI TS Thakur backs Kejriwal’s odd and even vehicle number formula

“I think this is the bare minimum which we can do”, Mr Thakur said of the scheme, which would allow private cars on the roads only on alternate days according to their licence plate numbers. “If there are too many problems, it will be stopped”, Kejriwal said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Delhi house minister Satyendra Jain stated the government will exclusively permit emergency vehicles like PCR van, hearth tenders, ambulances on the roads of the national capital.

Another city to try the odd-even number plate system as a way to reduce daily road emissions was Beijing, which initially trialled it during the 2008 Olympics. Many things are yet to be worked out…We will experiment with it for some time…. may be for 15 days.

It has been announced that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said he “will not do anything that creates problem for the people of Delhi”.

Besides, grass will be grown on the roadsides, he added. “He should see whether we have enough public transport to carry people?” Also, vehicle owners in the city are wondering how the traffic police will implement the proposal at the ground.

Sharma said public transport will be significantly augmented to take the load of increasing passengers due to the odd-even number restrictions.

“Alarming trends in air pollution levels in the capital city and its devastating impacts on public health have made the city desperate for urgent solutions”.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also directed the Delhi government to issue a notification within a week with regard to areas in the capital which are most polluted and enumerate steps needed to check air pollution.

The numbers-based approach is part of a slew of measures announced by the territory’s government to curb pollution; the government also plans to shutter some power plants and vacuum streets. Trucks enter the city after 9 pm right now.

The city has been blanketed in grey smog, and while there is no reliable data on respiratory diseases, most doctors in the capital report a sharp spike in pollution-related illness during the winter months.

Another official expressed surprise at the Delhi government taking such a huge decision without consulting the agency which has to implement it.