Odd-Even In Delhi From November 4-15, Government To Distribute Masks

The next edition of the Odd-Even road rationing plan in Delhi will be from November 4 to 15, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced this afternoon. Mr Kejriwal announced his government's seven-point action plan to tackle pollution due to crop burning, which includes distribution of masks, mechanised sweeping of roads, tree plantation, and special plans for 12 pollution hot spots in the city. The Odd-Even scheme, an effort to control the pollution levels in the capital, was introduced in Delhi in 2016.

This year, restrictions will be enforced on private cars and two-wheelers, while women drivers are exempted. The Odd-Even plan is not applicable on the weekends, the Chief Minister said at a press conference.

"If you enforce Odd-Even for a long time, the implementation becomes troublesome. As of now, Odd-Even will only be restricted to this time frame," said Mr Kejriwal. Emergency vehicles will not be subject to this, he said.

Delhi is the world's most polluted capital city, according to several studies, with vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from building sites, and smoke from the burning of garbage and crop residue in nearby fields. "Delhi is the only city in the world where pollution is decreasing. Pollution in Delhi has decreased by 25 per cent," Mr Kejriwal said.

The Chief Minister also urged people not to burst crackers.

Mr Kejriwal also announced plans to buy electric buses and invited corporates to invest in luxury buses. He said 1,000 electric buses will be introduced in Delhi national capital, adding that a bus aggregator policy will be announced soon.

In 2016, the Odd-Even scheme was enforced twice when vehicles having odd and even number plates were allowed to operate on alternate days as the air quality deteriorated.