Odd-even: Next phase after review, says Delhi transport minister

Delhi's Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said the second phase of the odd-even scheme will be implemented in the capital but he did not announce a date, saying "it will be decided after reviewing the impact of the ongoing pilot project".

"We have called a meeting on January 18 to review the impact of the odd-even scheme in the past 15 days. The meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," Rai said at a press conference here.

"On the basis of results of the ongoing odd-even scheme, it will be decided when to implement its second phase," Rai said.

Rai said the government will organise an event at Chhatrasal Stadium on January 17 to thank the people of Delhi who made the odd-even scheme a "success".

He said the capital's residents followed the rules willingly for reducing pollution levels in the city.

He also spoke about the fourth car-free day in the capital.

"The fourth car-free day will be organised on a 6-km stretch from Delhi University Metro station to Chhatrasal Stadium on January 22," Rai said.

The Car-Free Day, held on the 22nd of every month, was launched by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in October last year to create awareness about using public transport and thus bringing down pollution levels in the city.

He said the fourth car-free day would witness participation by teachers and students of Delhi University who will lead a cycle rally. It will be observed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The first Car-Free Day was held on October 22 on the Red Fort-India Gate stretch, the second in Dwarka on November 22, and the third in Lakshmi Nagar on December 22.

The monthly exercise is aimed at curbing air pollution. The increasingly toxic air in the capital had prompted the judiciary to nudge the city government to check pollution.

Reacting to the crisis, the AAP government had started the odd-even formula from January 1 allowing odd-even numbered private cars on alternate days.