Odd-even: 2-wheelers, women, most VIPs out

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, addressing the media on Thursday, sought to answer people’s concerns over the “odd-even” car restrictions formula planned from January 1 which the Delhi government hopes can tackle the city’s burgeoning pollution problem.

The chief minister said while the government could take up initiatives, everyone in the city needed to participate in order to make it successful. “We have to make this a people’s movement. The odd-even formula can’t be forcibly implemented,” Mr Kejriwal said. Adding a dose of humour, Mr Kejriwal said, after coughing in the middle of the briefing, that this (the coughing) was possibly the reason why the scheme would be implemented, due to the growing toxicity of Delhi’s air.

Speaking to reporters at his residence, the CM urged all residents to follow the odd-even formula for cars as the government attempts to clean up the alarming pollution levels. Reiterating that the plan cannot be implemented by “force” and needed people’s cooperation, he said if most people in Delhi refused to follow it, the government would have no option but to scrap the plan. “This scheme is for you, for your children. We are all coughing. It is for the environment. Let us make this a movement of the people, not something to be enforced with a danda (stick).”

Saying that he and his family would not be among those to be exempt from the scheme, Mr Kejriwal unveiled details of the controversial scheme, exempting 25 cat-

egories of motorists, including women drivers, two-wheeler users, emergency vehicles and a long list of VIPs. The scheme will be rolled on a pilot basis from January 1 to 15 and is to be applicable between 8 am to 8 pm, except Sundays, when it will not be in force. The odd-even scheme will also apply to all vehicles entering Delhi from other states, but buses, trucks, taxis, autos and all commercial vehicles have been exempted. It also leaves out CNG-certified vehicles, those carrying disabled people and medical emergency vehicles from its ambit.

Mr Kejriwal said the scheme had got all the necessary approvals and a notification for its implementation would be issued on Monday. Violators would attract a penalty of '2,000, he said. Delhi government officials said it will apply only to cars, that constitute just one-third of Delhi’s around 90 lakh vehicles — which has taken Delhi’s air pollution to alarming levels.

Mr Kejriwal read out a long list of VIP vehicles to be exempted, including those of the President, vice-president, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Union ministers and governors and chief ministers of states and Union territories “except that of Delhi”. Vehicles with defence ministry numberplates and those of Special Protection Group protectees will be left out of the rules, under which cars bearing odd and even numbers would ply on alternate dates till January 15. Emergency vehicles like fire tenders and ambulances, police and transport department vehicles will be out of its ambit as well. But lawyers and doctors, who had sought an exemption, are covered. Embassy cars with CD numberplates are exempt, but not members of Parliament.

Mr Kejriwal promised that Delhi Metro services will run at peak frequency during the period the regulations will be in force. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who was also at the press meet, urged the Chief Justice of India, who earlier had backed the proposals and whose vehicle will be out of the odd-even ambit, to try to car pool to work “to send out a strong message”.

Urging public cooperation, Mr Kejriwal said if large-scale violations were reported, his government would have no option but to “discontinue the scheme” and stressed the need for a “cultural change”. “Such schemes are enforced only during peak pollution periods across the world. Nowhere is it in force throughout the year. About 10,000 NCC and NSS volunteers will be pressed into service who will offer roses to violators so that there is a mindset change. Students across Delhi would also be made to take an oath on December 30,” Mr Kejriwal said. The CM said during the last “car-free” day in the city, some issues had cropped up as the traffic police stopped public vehicles like buses entering the designated stretch. “Transport minister Gopal Rai is writing to the Delhi police commissioner and the Centre raising the matter. There should not be politics over this matter,” he said.

Under the blueprint, cars with odd numberplates would also not be allowed to park in public parking lots during the odd number dates and vice-versa. Cars, if found parked on designated bus lanes being marked across the city, would also attract a penalty. Under the plan, owners of CNG-fitted cars will need to show prescribed stickers. A “carpool app” will also soon be launched.

Earlier in December, Mr Kejriwal had announced that he, his ministers and all Delhi government officials will follow the odd-even scheme. He had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his cooperation on its implementation.

The Delhi government plans to run 6,000 additional buses to accommodate commuters after the implementation of the odd-even scheme. It is estimated that nearly 10 lakh private cars will be off the roads of Delhi every day once the odd-even formula is implemented.