Delhi Pollution Update: Odd-even scheme to return in April

After several rounds of discussions and inputs from the common man, Delhi Government’s road rationing odd-even scheme is set to return for a second round, informed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during a press conference on Thursday. Following a largely successful 15-day pilot run in January, the scheme will be in force once again from April 15 to 30. As a result, private vehicles with odd registration numbers will be allowed to ply on odd dates while even ones will do so on even dates.

Kejriwal further said that two-wheelers will continued to be exempted from the road rationing as Delhi’s public transport is not yet capable of tackling the situation by itself. Like during the January phase, women drivers and VIPS will also remain free of the rule. But, the Delhi CM added that the government was yet to deliberate on the other categories of commuters who were exempted last time.

The employment of sub district magistrates by the Delhi Government to take stock of the state of affairs on the streets took a toll on office work and thus a different set of staffers will now be seen monitoring the roads. Around 500 retired defence personnel will be roped in for enforcing the restrictions of the rule this time round. 

The April phase of the odd-even rule is being implemented after the Delhi government carried out surveys and public consultations through mohalla sabhas to find out what Delhiites thought of the scheme. As many as 81% of respondents said that odd-even scheme should be brought again, according to Kejriwal. Out of a total 276 mohalla sabhas held, just one in Vishwas Nagar said it was not in favour of odd-even.

The Delhi CM said Government is procuring 3,000 new buses, including 1,000 luxury ones, which will be fielded by December as a part of efforts to ramp up public transport. Kejriwal also said that two-floor elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors will be constructed to augment transport infrastructure.