With 25 categories of exempted vehicles and Delhi residents already looking for jugaads to get around the AAP Government’s even-odd restrictions, Delhi Traffic Police is expected to face a tough time identifying the violating vehicles from the exempted ones, and then persecute them, once the ambitious scheme kicks off on January 1.
There are almost ten million vehicles registered in Delhi, out of which around two million are private cars. Add to that the private vehicles entering Delhi from neighbouring States. On the other hand, there are barely 5,000 traffic policemen manning around 900 signalised intersections in the city. These 5,000 men will not only have to regulate traffic, enforce traffic rules etc, but will also have to constantly read the number plates of the passing vehicles, identify if they are odd numbered or even, screen them to rule out if the vehicle belongs to a VVIP or it is being driven by a woman, runs on clean fuel etc and then finally stop it for prosecution if it is violating the even-odd rule.
It must be noted that during the peak hours, the traffic police often fail to even prosecute the regular offenders, which raises serious questions as to how the scheme will be enforced.
To make matters worse, people are also trying to find out different ways to get around the restrictions. There are fake number plates being sold, use-and-throw stickers that can make your odd number plate even and vice versa, and other innovative ways to fail the system. Then there is always the excuse of medical emergency under which any vehicle can be used and traffic police have no other option but to “trust” the driver as the Delhi Government has made this exemption purely “trust based”.
On a positive note, the traffic police are onboard to implement the scheme and a hefty fine may dissuade commuters from violating the rule. However, it remains to be seen how Delhi reacts to the ambitious scheme of the AAP Government aimed at reducing air pollution.
Under the odd-even scheme, the Government hopes that around ten lakh private vehicles will go off the roads of Delhi between January 1 and 15 as only even or odd numbered vehicles will be allowed to ply on the roads on alternate days. The restrictions that will be applicable between 8 am and 8 pm on week days will not be applicable on Sundays.
However, as The Pioneer had earlier reported, 25 categories of vehicles have been exempted from the vehicle rationing restrictions which include women-only vehicles (or having children up to 12 years of age), vehicles with persons with disabilities onboard, CNG vehicles, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, emergency vehicles and enforcement vehicles apart from vehicles of the VVIPs. While the four-wheeler private vehicles entering Delhi from neighbouring States will also come under the scheme, two wheelers have been, so far, kept out of it and will be allowed to ply.
The violation of the scheme will attract a fine of Rs 2,000 which can be imposed by officers of the rank of head constable and above of Delhi Police and Transport Department as well as officers authorized Divisional Commissioner of Revenue Department.