Odd-even 2.0 returns tomorrow

NEW DELHI: The odd-even experiment, aimed at curbing air pollution, will once again play out in Delhi roads from tomorrow, taking cars whose registration numbers end with even numbers off roads on the first day of its fortnight long implementation.

However, not much rush is expected on the public transport facilities such as Delhi Metro and Delhi Transport Corporation, who have announced extra trains and buses respectively till April 30, tomorrow being a public holiday on account of Ramnavami.

The Delhi government, which has projected the second phase of the road-rationing policy as the "decisive" one, said that 2,000 traffic personnel, 580 enforcement officials and over 5,000 civil defence volunteers are being deployed for its smooth implementation.

Violators will be fined Rs 2,000 in accordance with relevant section of the Motor Vehicles Act and the scheme will not be implemented on Sundays.

The first phase of the policy, that was in force between January 1 and 15, did not have its intended affect as it could not lower pollution "as much as expected" but it significantly helped reduce traffic congestion in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

However, Kejriwal has also stated that his government is seriously considering to enforce the measure for a period of fifteen days every month. Experts will be monitoring its affect on gaseous pollutants such as Ozone this time.

The only change in the blueprint of the policy's implementation from its first phase is the exemption given to cars carrying children in school uniform apart from those being driven by women, VIPs except Ministers in the AAP government and CNG vehicles with mandatory stickers.

Although the government has conceded that it has not been able to find a solution to the problem of cars going to pick up children after school hours during the scheme. Kejriwal has suggested car pooling to parents to avoid problems.

Two hundred metro trains will make around 3,248 trips daily during the next fortnight, a rise of about 56 trips over the existing arrangements, DMRC has said. 15 additional feeder buses will also leave from stations across the city.