Ajay Maken: Too early to comment on odd-even scheme

New Delhi is testing a formula where private cars will be allowed on the roads only on alternate days from January 1-15, depending on whether their license plates end in an even or an odd number.

CNG vehicles fall under the list of exemptions in the Odd-Even scheme implemented in the national capital from 8 AM on Friday, following which as many as 81 motorists were prosecuted by the police till 5 PM.

For the residents and visitors of Delhi, the New Year has started with the implementation of the odd-even scheme that restricts the use of odd number cars to odd number dates and even cars on even dates.

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“Gandhigiri” was on display at 200 locations in the city with civil defence volunteers offering roses to those violating odd-even rules implemented for 15 days from January 1 to bring down pollution level in the national capital.

Rai later took a bus ride to find out how the Delhi Transport Corporation was faring.

The enforcement teams were seen allowing some of the even-numbered cars to go with a simple warning and educating the drivers about the initiative.

After seeing the widespread compliance, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said: “It is more successful than what we had anticipated”.

Offenders are being fined Rs. 2,000 by traffic policemen and officials.

Though two-wheelers, ambulances, police vans and emergency cars are exempted from the rule, the Delhi government is running 3,000 extra buses and the Delhi metro is operating its full capacity.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “People in Delhi will ensure odd-even formula is a success”.

However, the real test of the scheme’s effectiveness will be on Moday as a number of private offices are closed today.

As the restrictions came into force on Friday morning, pollutant levels hit a “hazardous” 429 on the United States embassy’s air quality index, meaning everyone is at risk of respiratory problems and children and older people should stay indoors. They live in North Delhi’s Civil Lines area. “Delhi is following it voluntarily”.

“People in Delhi accepted the scheme whole-heartedly”.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee said the Particulate Matter 2.5 reading at Delhi Secretariat decreased in the evening. I called the constable to find out the venue of an event I went to.

The offender claimed that he knew about the restrictions but had no other option as there was no convenient transportation facility from his residence near Pari Chowk to his office, said a senior traffic official.