Odd-even is back in Delhi for 5 days; women, two-wheelers exempted

New Delhi: With a killer ‘pea soup fog’ blanketing the national capital for three continuous days, the Delhi High Court and the National Green Tribunal on Thursday issued a slew of directions, including implementing the odd-even scheme, to improve the air quality in the city.

An irked green panel also imposed a ban on the entry of diesel trucks more than 10 years old. The odd-even car rationing scheme will be rolled out in Delhi for five days from November 13.

The scheme will be in place from 8 am to 8 pm and there will be exemption for women drivers, two-wheelers and vehicles carrying children in school uniforms, besides VVIPs, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said.

“The exemptions will be similar as last year and there is no need for people to panic,” he told reporters, adding that CNG vehicles having valid stickers would be exempt. The minister said the Delhi government would not allow cab-aggregators to resort to surge pricing during the period in Delhi.

“I have called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber tomorrow to ensure that there is no surge pricing during the odd-even,” Gahlot said.

Under the policy, private vehicles are allowed to run based on the last number of their licence plates.

Odd-numbered cars are allowed to run on odd dates while even-numbered cars can only run on even dates. In 2016, the scheme was enforced twice — January 1-15 and April 15-30.

A pollution emergency prevailed in the national capital for the third straight day on Thursday as a toxic cloud of smog kept the city shrouded, a situation which is likely to persist for another 48 hours. 

He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a meeting of chief ministers of Delhi and adjoining states to find a solution to the crisis.