Odd-Even 2.0 Back in Delhi, Violators to Pay Rs 2,000 As Fine

New Delhi: The odd-even private vehicle rationing scheme is back. Aimed at curbing air pollution, the scheme has begun yet again and will be in place till April 30. Cars whose registration numbers end with even numbers will be off Delhi roads on the first day of its fortnight long implementation.

The rule will be effective from Monday to Saturday between 8 AM and 8 PM. The rule only applies to private cars. Violation of the odd even rule will lead to a fine of Rs 2,000 in accordance with relevant section of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The Delhi government, which has projected the second phase of the road-rationing policy as the "decisive" one, said that 2,000 traffic personnel, 580 enforcement officials and over 5,000 civil defence volunteers are being deployed for its smooth implementation.

To ensure that commuters are not inconvenienced, the Delhi government is ramping up the public transport. Two hundred metro trains will make around 3,248 trips daily during the next fortnight, a rise of about 56 trips over the existing arrangements, DMRC has said. 15 additional feeder buses will also leave from stations across the city.

The first phase of the policy, that was in force between January 1 and 15, did not have its intended effect as it could not lower pollution "as much as expected" but it significantly helped reduce traffic congestion in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

However, Kejriwal has also stated that his government is seriously considering to enforce the measure for a period of fifteen days every month. Experts will be monitoring its affect on gaseous pollutants such as Ozone this time.

Apart from the exception to vehicles driven by women, VIPs except Ministers in the AAP government and CNG vehicles with mandatory stickers, cars carrying children in school uniform will also be exempted from being penalised.

Although the government has conceded that it has not been able to find a solution to the problem of cars going to pick up children after school hours during the scheme. Kejriwal has suggested car pooling to parents to avoid problems.