Odd-even rule: Why Delhi's pre-owned car dealers may be crowned winners

Many trees have been sacrificed at the altar of opinion on the Delhi government's decision to combat pollution by limiting private cars on the Capital's roads according to odd and even licence number plates. The move has spawned an entire genre of jokes and evoked consternation in almost equal measure. However, have the odds of the new directive actually promoting business and even increasing productivity been considered? For instance, though chauffeurs are grimly expecting the bottom to fall out of their market as people will cut car use by half, any ill effects could be evened out if they simply resort to buying second cars instead, benefiting car dealers. But those who do choose this way to tackle the odd-even restriction may not naturally opt for new cars due to strictures on choosing licence number plates. So, the odds are that ' pre-owned' ones with appropriate numbers will suddenly become more attractive than ever before.



Moreover, employers should be particularly happy about the 8:00 am-8:00 pm duration of the restrictions. Rush-hour timings may simply be altered accordingly by an hour by car-goers, so work would begin commensurately early, with employees volunteering to stay on several hours later than usual too. Of course, all this would defeat the primary purpose of the order, but does anyone really care?