Impossible to continue odd-even scheme permanently: Kejriwal

But I am happy to see the overwhelming response from the people.

The government has hired around 3,000 private buses to provide shuttle services into the city from residential areas to ease the extra pressure on the public transport network.

The odd-even scheme that allows odd- and even-numbered private vehicles to ply on the city roads on alternate days aims at reducing air pollution levels.

“Some people are saying that the real test of this scheme will be on Monday when people in large numbers will go to work”.

“I could have driven in my odd numbered auto today but I have made a decision to commute to Secretariat for next 14 days on my motorbike”, he said adding that he was riding bike after a gap of 5-6 months.

“And government is merely assisting them. So this is the ideal situation”.

Delhi police issued challans to 117 violators, who were also offered red roses by volunteers urging them to follow the rules.

The much-discussed scheme finally out in New Delhi from 8 am to 8 pm. But the scheme’s success – or failure – could be gauged properly only from Monday when many offices reopen after the year-end holidays. Also, a portable air monitoring station was deployed in New Delhi for air quality assessment.

The city has been shrouded in a toxic blanket of smog in recent weeks as winter sets in and cooler temperatures trap pollutants in the atmosphere, pushing harmful PM 2.5 levels sky-high.

The respective safety limits are 60 and 100 micrograms for the two and prolonged exposure to anything beyond that can harm the respiratory system.

As the world watches Delhi’s moves, time will only spell out if the unique initiative paves the way for other Indian cities to adopt similar measures to curb pollution.

Two-wheelers are included in the list of 25 categories that have been kept out of the ambit of the scheme.

Schools, meanwhile, have been closed for the duration of the anti-pollution drive so that their buses can be used to ferry commuters to work.

The transport department, which had enforcement teams out on the roads across the capital, also fined 140 autorickshaw drivers on the basis of 200 complaints received against them.

The first offender, who was slapped with the stipulated Rs 2,000 fine, told police that he was heading towards his office and there was no convenient transportation facility from his residence near Pari Chowk, the intersection between NOIDA and Greater NOIDA, said a senior traffic official.

“We are ready to travel in public transportation as long as there aren’t any hassles”, said Pallavi Agarwal, a 37-year-old doctor, as she stepped out of her SUV with her four-year-old son and husband.

With Jan. 1 being an odd number date, only odd-numbered vehicles were allowed on the roads.