Why no women drivers, bikes in odd-even formula, asks Delhi High Court

New Delhi: Just two days before the “odd-even” car restrictions will be implemented in the nation’s capital to reduce air pollution, the Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the AAP government to clarify why women and two-wheelers had been exempted from the 15-day scheme that comes into effect from January 1.

The court also sought the Delhi education department’s response on a plea against its order to private unaided schools to provide their buses to be run as public transport while the scheme is being run.

As the city administration conducted a “dry run” on Wednesday to see if its mechanism was in place to ensure smooth implementation of the pilot project, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal warned volunteers, who will be deployed for the scheme, against “arguing or misbehaving” with people and to focus on “changing hearts” politely, such as by handing over flowers to violators.

He also urged school students to convince their parents, relatives and friends to follow the scheme and to encourage them to opt for car-pooling, which the CM said he will himself do. “If you see anyone violating the odd-even scheme, just roll down your car window and ask that person to go back home. If the same person gets 10 such remarks in a day, it would stir his conscience and persuade him to keep his car off the road,” Mr Kejriwal said, addressing students at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya in Delhi’s Civil Lines.

Hundreds of schoolchildren took a pledge in the presence of the CM to fight pollution and convince their parents, relatives and friends to adhere to the odd-even scheme.

Saying 100 per cent result can’t be assured in any scheme, Delhi Chief Minister said while there may be problems due to the inadequate numbers of buses and Metro trains, the air in Delhi had become “so poor” that there was no other way to improve it.