The local government announced the scheme after a court ordered authorities to tackle pollution levels more than 10 times the World Health Organisation’s safe limits. “Even those who violated the restriction had some valid reason… or they were among those exempted”. Traffic police were quick to fine them a steep 2,000 rupees (40 USA dollars).
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Overwhelmed’ by the response of Delhiites to the odd-even trial, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has said that it is considering lifting exemptions to women and two-wheelers under the formula in the next phase.
“There has been no vote bank politics behind the plan, neither it was meant to just popularise another slogan for pollution-free Delhi”.
By and large, the first day of the experiment was successful with a drastic reduction in the number of cars on the streets and an absence of the peak-hour traffic jams. “So the apprehensions are unfounded as only vehicle volume may go up on Monday not violations”, he said. “This fight is against pollution and I appeal to BJP and Congress to come out and support this drive and make it a great success”, he said.
Many offices and residents’ associations have arranged car-pools.
Across the city, including at major arteries in central Delhi, traffic police were seen stopping violators. But police said fining was not their main aim.
East Delhi resident Amrish Mishra told IANS that he spotted only two even-numbered vehicles as he drove all the way to Safdarjung Airport in south Delhi.
Delhi’s air routinely worsens in the winter months, as millions of poor people light fires for warmth and the cold air and cloud cover traps pollutants.
Transport Minister Rai, who came to work with Kejriwal, told IANS: “It is a historic step towards reducing pollution level”.
Additional buses have been deployed on the roads and the Delhi Metro ran extra services today.
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Social Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar took a bus to reach Secretariat while his colleague and Environment and Forest minister Imran Hussain arrived in an erickshaw. The present number of buses can accommodate another 15-16 lakh passengers if their number increases on Monday, said the minister. “If we were only bothered about the vote bank and focused only on conventional politics, we would not have been able to implement the odd-even scheme”, he said. While there is a lot of confusion over the scheme, for now it seems to be working.
