'Odd-Even' traffic rule begins in Delhi to curb air pollution

NEW DELHI - The Delhi Government's new "Odd-Even" traffic rule came into force from Monday, according to which cars and other four-wheelers bearing registration numbers ending with an odd number will be allowed to ply on odd dates, and those ending with an even number will ply on road on even dates, said media reports.

The move has been resorted to in a bid to address the acute problem of rising air pollution levels in the national capital. It would be in force for the next 12 days.

The new traffic rule, which has been tried and tested twice by the present-day Delhi Government in the past, will ensure that the number of four-wheelers plying on Delhi roads is reduced to half.

According to the latest figures released by the air quality monitoring system "System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)," the air over Delhi continues to be "severely" polluted.

At 08:20 hours, the PM10 pollutants concentration was found to be 571, while PM2.5 pollutants was recorded at 438, showed the SAFAR data.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was found to be above 500 which is said to be "Severe Plus" category.

The "Odd-Even" traffic rule would be in force from 08:00 hours till 20:00 hours. Two-wheelers, electric vehicles four-wheelers driven by women and all emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire-brigades have been exempted. To be in force till Nov 15, the traffic rule won't be implemented on Sundays.

The vehicles of Delhi police paramilitary forces, army, prime minister, union cabinet minister, governors and president will also be exempted.

In case of a medical emergency, people will be allowed to move on the road with a self-declaration. Persons with disabilities and the vehicles carrying school students will be exempted from the rationing scheme.

As many as 200 teams would be deployed across the city to ensure a smooth implementation of the traffic scheme.

The Delhi Government has resorted to other measures in order to curb the alarming air pollution levels. It has banned all construction activities and bursting of fire-crackers till the end of the Winter season, which normally continues till February.

As a precautionary measure to protect children from air pollution, all schools in Delhi and nearby cities like Gurugram and Faridabad have been shut.