Delhi's odd-even scheme kicks in; Kejriwal calls it a success

Challans issued at many traffic junctions as Delhi comes to terms with driving only odd-numbered cars today

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he was "overwhelmed" by the response of people towards the odd-even scheme here.

"I am truly overwhelmed by the response we have received so far. There are very less even-numbered cars on the roads. The plan seems to have been successful," he told media.

He said the people of Delhi accepted the scheme "whole-heartedly", adding "I am confident that in next five years people will show the way to rest of the country".

"Delhi has done it! Reports so far very encouraging. Delhiites! You give me hope that you are capable of achieving big challenges," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

"I am pooling my car and going to office with two ministers, my personal secretary and my joint secretary," he said.

Floated by the Delhi government, the odd-even scheme that allows odd and even-numbered private vehicles on the city roads on alternate days aims at reducing air pollution levels in the national capital.

The odd- even vehicular restriction policy of the Delhi government came into effect today at 8 a.m. on the first day of 2016, with thousands of volunteers taking to the streets to assist traffic police in enforcing the pilot plan that will stay in force in the national capital till January 15.

As per the scheme, cars bearing odd-numbered registration plates shall ply on city roads today while those with even number plates, if spotted, will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000 under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Nonetheless, Business Standard reporters noticed a handful of even-numbered cars that were plying on roads on January 1 (see image). 



Thousands of civil defence volunteers, traffic police personnel, enforcement teams of Delhi government's transport department and authorised sub-divisional magistrates have been deployed to implement the scheme which kicked in at 8 am and will be in force till 8 pm.

Partnering with Twitter, the delhi transport department has also advised commuters to tweet @TransportDelhi to get real time information on shortest routes
 

Delhi government, with the help of traffic police, had yesterday conducted a rehearsal ahead of the roll out of the scheme and hundreds of civil defence volunteers were seen assisting police teams in several parts of the city.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has repeatedly stressed on the need for the scheme to be successful in view of the capital's alarming pollution levels, had warned volunteers against "arguing or misbehaving" with people while top cop BS Bassi has assured full cooperation in implementing the vehicular restrictions.