Odd-even scheme not permanent: Kejriwal

He said that he and his colleagues guarding neighbouring houses had been observing the roads and found that only odd number private cars were plying as per the January 1 rule.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he would talk during the even months of February, April and so on, and keep mum in the odd months.

Kejriwal explained that there would be a reassessment after the pilot plan ends on January 15 and that it would never be “permanently” implemented. Only odd-numbered cars are allowed on the roads today. The meters displayed real-time values of the particulate matter – PM 2.5 and PM 10 in air. “We have two cars in the family and both cars will ply on all days”, said a 23-year-old communications professional in South Extension.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government claimed that pollution levels reduced across monitoring stations but a scientific justification is awaited on this.

The Supreme Court of India, which has been the most aggressive government bodies on pollution issues, has banned large diesel SUVs in Delhi and hiked taxes on commercial trucks entering the city.

“There have been very few violations”, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sharad Aggarwal told IANS.

Under the scheme, 25 categories of people are being given exemptions including the VIPs.

To enable implementation of the odd even rule, several offices and residents’ associations have arranged car-pools. CNG-driven public transport is also excluded.

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

At certain areas, police fined violators while volunteers and civil defence personnel offered people roses prodding them politely. We are telling motorists that this is for the good of all.

Notably, though there was a significant decrease in congestion in the city during the day time, traffic jams were reported from parts of Delhi after 8 pm.

With almost 90 lakh vehicles registered in Delhi, cars account for almost a third. “And the world will be as one”, Kejriwal tweeted. To send a strong message to people, Kejriwal and his cabinet ministers are carpooling to work. He had taken a bus with senior DTC officials Friday – the first day of the pollution-control plan.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the initiative of his government is receiving widespread acceptance among the people and Delhi will show the way to the rest of the country.

Kejriwal shared his vehicle with other ministers, while Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain leaves for Delhi Secretariat in an E-rickshaw.

Environmentalists have welcomed the odd-even restriction policy which is expected to sharply cut down the number of vehicles on Delhi’s roads, but they are not sure how effective it will be in curbing pollution. If the policy is extended beyond 15 days, some residents say they will simply buy a second vehicle or fake license plate.