Odd-even car rationing experiment to be back in India's Delhi

After a successful first round, the Delhi government has announced a second round of car rationing experiment, aimed at curbing pollution and traffic congestion.

The second phase of the odd- even car scheme would run from April 15 to 30, when private cars with even and odd numbered plates will only be allowed to ply on Delhi's roads on alternate days.

"The scheme will be implemented from April 15 to 30. VIPs, women and two-wheelers will continue to be kept out of the ambit of the scheme," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the media Thursday.

The chief minister said the government would make a decision later on whether the odd- even scheme would be repeated every month, stressing, "If Delhi's people support us, it can be implemented."

"The biggest argument in favour of implementing the scheme every month for 15 days is that one individual will not face trouble for more than seven days due to the nature of the scheme," he said.

The first phase of the odd- even trial took place from January 1 to 15 when a third of Delhi's three million private cars went off the roads.

Though the experiment succeeded in easing traffic congestion in a city where some 1,400 new cars hit the roads everyday, there is no clarity on whether it had helped curb pollution. Endit