Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the city government will re-launch the "Red Light on Gaadi Off" campaign from  October 26 to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital. Rai also said that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital will fluctuate in the coming days in the wake of the upcoming festive and winter season. However, several instances of firecracker burning were also reported from parts of Delhi on the occasion of Dussehra on Tuesday.

Last year, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had put the campaign on hold, questioning its effectiveness.

According to Rai, to control vehicle pollution, Kejriwal government set to start 'Red Light On-Gaadi Off' campaign from ITO Chowk on October 26. It will be implemented at Barakhamba Road on October 28; Chandgi Ram Akhada on October 30 and from all legislative assemblies on November 2.

"On November 3, awareness campaign about 'Red Light On-Gaadi Off' will be conducted among children in schools through 2000 Eco Clubs," he said.

Addressing a press conference, Rai said a recent data analysis shows a decrease in PM10 pollution and a rise in PM2.5 concentration due to biomass burning and vehicular emissions.

"Considering this, we have decided to reintroduce the 'Red Light on Gaadi Off' campaign to reduce vehicular pollution, starting October 26," he said.  Rai noted that in the previous years, civil defence volunteers were involved in the campaign. This year, the campaign will involve the general public.

Rai further said In Delhi, a study was conducted under the partnership of PCRA and Petroleum Conservation.  "Without the campaign, when a survey was conducted, only 20% of people turned off their engines at red lights. At that point, volunteers with placards started the campaign. After the campaign, when another survey was conducted, it was found that nearly 80% of people had started turning off their car engines at red lights. This kind of campaign has been carried out in several cities on an international level. In London, this campaign was conducted under the name 'Engine Off Every Stop.' In cities in North Carolina, USA, a similar campaign called 'Turn Off Your Engine' was carried out," he added.

Criticising the AAP government's failure to curb air pollution, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has said that AAP government is back at playing its old games in the name of pollution control. "Red Light On Engine Off is a scheme which has proved to be a failure in reducing pollution over last few years and there is no scientific study backing its viability. Infact last year Red Light On Engine Off was not allowed to be introduced due to departmental objection but now Rai has again brought it and we don't know whether the officials have approved it and its financial implications," Sachdeva said.

The "Red Light on Gaadi Off" campaign, first launched on October 16, 2020, aims to decrease vehicular pollution in Delhi by encouraging drivers to turn off their vehicles while waiting at traffic lights.

A 2019 study conducted by the Central Road Research Institute showed that idling engines at traffic signals could increase pollution levels by more than 9 per cent.

Another study conducted at the Bhikaji Cama Place traffic intersection by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, revealed that more than 62 per cent people began turning off their vehicle engines after a similar campaign.

The air quality in Delhi on Wednesday improved after it was recorded in the 'moderate' category, with the AQI at 190, as per SAFAR-India. As per the data, the AQI stood above 300 in at least 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi on Tuesday.