Odd-Even kicks in: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal urges people to follow it

As Delhi government's odd-even road scheme, an anti-pollution measure, kicked in from 8 am on Monday in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people to follow it for the sake of their family. Taking to Twitter, CM Kejriwal said that he hopes odd-even will reduce pollution. Urging people to follow it, he suggested people to share cars. He said sharing cars will strengthen friendship, form relations, save petrol and pollution.

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Odd-Even Scheme

Under the scheme, apart from exempted categories, only those non-transport four-wheeled vehicles will ply on the roads which have registration numbers ending with an even digit. Violations of the odd-even rule will invite a fine of Rs 4,000. Under the scheme, which is now implemented and will be in place till 8 pm, non-transport four-wheeled vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will not be allowed on the roads on November 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14. Similarly, vehicles with registration numbers ending with an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) will not be allowed on the roads on November 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15.

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Over 600 teams of Delhi Traffic Police and the transport and revenue departments have been deployed for a strict implementation of the scheme across the city. Two-wheelers and electric vehicles have been exempted from the restrictions, but not CNG-driven vehicles. Women-only vehicles with children aged up to 12 years and vehicles occupied by physically-disabled persons will also be exempted. Twenty-nine categories of vehicles, including those of President, prime minister, emergency and enforcement vehicles, have been exempted. However, the vehicles of the Delhi chief minister and ministers will not be exempted.

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The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city at 7:30 am stood at 439, which falls in the "severe" category. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category. 

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