Odd-even scheme restrictions from 8am to 8pm: Delhi govt

New Delhi, December 8

The Delhi government’s new ‘odd-even policy' to control vehicle flow in the city will be enforced for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm from January 1, officials said on Tuesday.

Cars with even registration numbers will ply on even number dates and those with odd-number plates on odd dates, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said after a meeting called by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.  

Rai said the scheme would be reviewed after the first 15 days. There will be no restrictions on Sundays, he said.

The meeting saw representation from the Delhi Police and the PWD departments, among others.

The state government is yet undecided whether the policy will be applicable to two-wheelers. The government will draw up a detailed blue print of the policy complete with information from experts and details of exemptions — such as for the ailing and the disabled — by December 25.

The government will also decide whether women will be included in the 'exemption list'.

The Delhi Metro services will work up a plan to increase its frequency, while the Delhi government has also decided to introduce 1,000 new buses in an attempt to bolster the city’s public transport.

"We have also decided to involve around 9,000 private buses including those serving schools for ferrying passengers," Rai said.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee will collect samples from around 200 spots across the city to conduct air quality tests. Results of the tests will be displayed on boards.

The Delhi government announced a policy to control vehicle flow in the city in a bid to fight the alarming rise of pollution on Friday. According to the new policy, vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply on city roads every alternate day from January 1, 2016. The measure is expected to cut down vehicle traffic on roads by half. — Agencies