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More than an estimated 12.5 lakh four-wheelers will go off Delhi’s streets in a bid to curb air pollution as part of the odd-even road rationing scheme right after Diwali. The rule will also apply to vehicles registered outside Delhi too.
Announcing the scheme’s implementation following a review of the situation by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Environment Minister Gopal Rai termed it one of the futuristic decisions taken by the AAP government in Delhi to reduce pollution since assuming power.
“It is being anticipated that pollution may increase in Delhi after Diwali. Keeping this in mind, the odd-even formula will be implemented from November 13 to 20. Odd-Even will be in effect for one week starting from the day after Diwali,” Rai announced at a press conference.
Rai added that a detailed action plan will be developed in collaboration with departments, including Transport and the Traffic Police, on Tuesday — on odd days, only vehicles with licence plates ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 will be allowed, while on even days, vehicles ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 will be allowed to operate.
According to government sources, there was a view to put the scheme in place within two days of the announcement on Monday.
This, however, according to a senior government official, could not materialise given the preparation for it — from the deployment of officials deputed to enforce it on the ground to the procurement of additional buses to temporarily augment the city’s public transportation infrastructure — could not be achieved in time.
“The modalities regarding the scheme will be worked out during a meeting tomorrow; in the meantime, we have already begun the process of acquiring more buses from private operators to ply them for the convenience of commuters when the scheme is in force,” the official said.
Transport department officials peg the total number of “active vehicles” at around 75 lakh.
These are vehicles that remain registered and are allowed to operate in the city following the de-registration of diesel vehicles aged over 10 years and petrol ones above the age of 15 years (out of 1.3 crore vehicles in the city before de-registration).
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Of these, a senior transport department official said, an estimated 50 lakh are two-wheelers while the remaining account for four-wheelers. According to government sources, two-wheelers, taxi cabs, electric and CNG vehicles will be exempt from the provisions of the scheme.
In addition to the time period of the day during which the scheme will be in force — during its previous renditions, it has been put in place between 8 am and 8 pm — as well as a call on exempting women drivers, irrespective of the odd or even number of their registration plate, will be taken on Tuesday.
Sources said one of the most significant decisions regarding the scheme would revolve around whether or not to continue it beyond the November 13 to 20 period.
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