It is estimated that during the first 15 days of the New Year when the odd-even formula for vehicles will be in force the national Capital, over around 10 lakh private cars/ SUVs will stay off the roads every day. It may result in the drastic reduction of vehicles plying on the city roads.
This will not only have a positive impact on the flow of traffic but also significantly reduce pollution level in the city. According to the data prepared by the Transport Department of the Delhi Government, there are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi and nearly half of these will go off the roads with the implementation of odd-even formula.
“After implementation of the odd-even scheme from January 1, around 10-lakh odd-numbered cars will go off the city’s roads on even dates and vice versa during a 15-day trial period,” said a top official.
According to an IIT-Kanpur study, vehicular emissions make the national Capital’s air abysmally poor during the winter months.
The Arvind Kejriwal Government is yet to decide on a policy for the large number of private four-wheelers entering the national Capital from cities within its vicinity like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat.
The Government has to take a decision also on the approximately 57-lakh bikes and scooters here.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has said that the Government will come out with a final plan for the implementation of the odd-even formula before December 25 and strictly implement it in order to clean the city’s air.
“All the departments concerned have been asked to suggest ways to successfully implement the ambitious scheme.DTC has been directed to engage private buses and school buses under cluster scheme so that people don’t face problems while using public transport from January 1 to January 15,” the official also said.
The AAP Government is studying three existing Acts —Environment Protection Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Motor Vehicles Act — under which it can impose a penalty on those, found violating the odd-even rule.