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Indian capital rolls out "odd-even" formula again to check pollution

Xinhua, April 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The local government in New Delhi on Friday once again rolled out "odd-even" formula of private cars in the capital city, officials said.

The second phase of car rationing scheme is aimed at curbing alarming levels of pollution and reduce traffic congestion on city's roads.

"Under the scheme four-wheelers with odd registration numbers will ply on odd dates and those with even numbers on even dates," a local government official said.

"The rule will be in operation from 8:00 a.m. (local time) to 8:00 in the evening."

However, the scheme will not be applicable on Sundays.

According to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the scheme will last for a fortnight until April 30, after which decision about its continuation would be taken.

A similar 15-day trial was implemented in the city on Jan. 1 which helped in easing the traffic congestion.

Like previous time, the VIPs, women drivers, CNG-certified vehicles, two-wheelers and those carrying the differently-abled are among the 25 categories which are exempted from the formula.

However, New Delhi Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues have decided to abide by the rule.

"Under the scheme, the president, the vice president, the prime minister, federal ministers and other VIPs have been exempted. Besides, vehicles driven by women, emergency vehicles, CNG vehicles and cars carrying school children in uniforms will be exempted," the officials said.

According to the formula, the violators of the policy would be penalized with a fine of 30 U.S. dollars.

The local government has also roped in over 5,000 civil defence volunteers at various traffic points to motivate the people to follow the rules of the scheme.

To cope up with the rush of commuters, Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will run 200 metro trains which will make around 3,248 trips per day until April 30.

New Delhi has been experiencing hazardous levels of pollution and is the most polluted city in world, according to the World Health Organisation.

During the first trial more than a third of the city's three million private cars went off the roads.

However, it was unclear if the scheme helped to bring down pollution levels in the capital.

The local government has said the second phase of the "odd-even plan" would be "decisive" to ascertain its effectiveness in curbing pollution. Endit